Question Period Note: BORDER MEASURES - GENERAL

• What is the Government doing to encourage the restart of the Canadian economy while continuing to prevent imported cases of COVID-19?

KEY MESSAGES
• The Government of Canada continues to strongly advise Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to mitigate the further introduction and transmission of COVID-19, and its variants, into Canada.
• As vaccination progresses throughout the country, the Government of Canada’s approach to easing of border requirements will remain science and risk-based, and closely tied to important public health measures.
• The first phase of easing Canada’s border measures will allow some exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers who are currently allowed to enter Canada.
• Beginning July 6, fully vaccinated, asymptomatic travellers will be permitted to forgo federal quarantine requirements and the second post-arrival (Day 8) test.
• To meet the definition of fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full dosage for a vaccine series accepted by Health Canada.
• These travellers are still required to have a negative pre-departure and on-arrival molecular test, and submit all required COVID-19 information electronically using ArriveCAN prior to their arrival.
• As evidence changes and the situation evolves, the Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to consider further targeted restrictions at the borders – and when to lift or adjust them - to keep Canadians safe.

IF PRESSED ON NEW UPDATES TO THE BORDER MEASURES
• Fully-vaccinated travellers who are currently allowed to enter Canada and who arrive by air and who are asymptomatic will no longer be required to stay at a government-authorized hotel.
• Only travellers whose vaccination status meets the definition of “fully vaccinated,” and who have met all other criteria and requirements outlined, will be eligible for exemption from mandatory quarantine, government-authorized hotel stay and day-8 testing requirements.
• Fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air or land will continue to be required to complete the mandatory pre-arrival testing.
• To meet the definition of fully-vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full dosage for a vaccine series accepted by Health Canada.
• The last dosage must have been administered at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. Vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada do not have to have been administered while in Canada to be accepted.
• The traveller can receive their vaccine in any country and the list of vaccines could expand in the future.
• At this time, proof of vaccination is not required to enter Canada. However, if a traveller wishes to be exempt from the mandatory three-night hotel stay and to forgo federal quarantine requirements and the second post-arrival (Day 8) test they must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated and be asymptomatic.
• Travellers will be required to provide proof of vaccination credentials in English or French using the ArriveCAN app or the ArriveCAN website. Travellers must also retain a copy (paper or electronic) of their proof of vaccination for verification at the border and for 14 days following their entry to Canada.

IF PRESSED ON THE SUSPENSION OF FLIGHTS FROM INDIA AND PAKISTAN
• The Government of Canada continues to monitor the epidemiological situation domestically and globally. This allows us to take action to reduce the risk to Canadians as much as possible, including managing risks imposed by international travellers.
• From April 23, 2021 to June 21, 2021, the Government of Canada suspended all commercial and private passenger direct flights from India and Pakistan. This measure has been extended for direct flights from India until July 21, 2021.
• The introduction of these measures was driven by science and data. These additional layers of protection aim to manage the elevated risk of imported cases of COVID-19 and variants of concern into Canada.
• Travellers arriving from India via indirect flights to Canada, unless exempt, will need to obtain a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country before continuing their trip to Canada and will continue to be subject to the current testing and quarantine requirements on arrival.
• The temporary ban will allow the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue to assess the evolving situation globally and domestically to determine the appropriate border measures that will mitigate the importation and transmission of new cases.

IF PRESSED ON MEASURES SPECIFIC TO TRAVELLERS FROM BRAZIL
• Throughout this pandemic, border measures have been introduced and adjusted in response to emerging science, data on travellers arriving in Canada, and the epidemiological situation domestically and globally.
• There are no specific prohibitions or public health requirements for travellers arriving from Brazil.
• Canada does not have any direct flights from Brazil currently.

IF PRESSED ON FEDERAL QUARANTINE SITES
• Travellers are responsible for arranging a suitable place to quarantine prior to their arrival in Canada.
• If no other suitable arrangements to quarantine are possible, individual travellers may be referred to a federally designated quarantine facility, if necessary.

IF PRESSED ON GOVERNMENT-AUTHORIZED ACCOMMODATIONS
• Government-Authorized Accommodations (GAA) are privately owned hotels that have agreed to meet public health guidelines and selection criteria for the purposes of accommodating travellers while they await their COVID-19 test results.
• There are currently 63 GAAs to choose from, located near each of the four international airports in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
• Travellers who receive a negative result from the test they took on arrival can leave the GAA to complete the remainder of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period at their final place of quarantine or at a federal designated quarantine facility if they do not have a suitable quarantine plan.
• Exempting fully-vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act and fully-vaccinated Foreign Nationals who are not prohibited from entering Canada from the mandatory government-authorized hotel stay is a cautious first step on the path to easing border measures.

IF PRESSED ON COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is working with the RCMP and provincial and municipal law enforcement agencies to verify compliance with the Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations Order.
• Compliance verification visits by a third party contractor are now underway in all provinces.
• Officials provide information handouts at the border, and contact travellers throughout their isolation or quarantine period to remind them of the requirements.
• If travellers cannot be reached, or appear non-compliant with isolation or quarantine requirements, they are referred to local law enforcement for follow-up.
• Failure to comply with the Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations Order is an offence under the Quarantine Act. Penalties could include up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines. Effective June 4, 2021, the fine for non-compliance with most border measures implemented under the Quarantine Act will increase from $3,000 to $5,000 to reinforce the ongoing seriousness of the pandemic and to deter non-compliance with the current border measures.
• Violating other measures in the Quarantine Act, including exposing another person to serious disease, can lead to up to three years in prison and/or $1 million in fines.
• The Government is engaging local police to urgently follow-up on cases of individual travellers who leave the airport and do not comply with testing and quarantine measures. Travellers who refuse to comply could face a fine of at least $5,000.

IF PRESSED ON COMPLIANCE NUMBERS
• Overall, travel volumes have decreased by 96% when compared to this time last year.

• As of June 17, 2021, more than 2,500 contravention tickets have been issued and 16 individuals have been charged under the Quarantine Act.
• To date, over 331,000 travellers have received a compliance verification visit, and 54,010 referrals have been made to the RCMP as a result of these visits.

IF PRESSED ON BORDER PRESENCE
• Public Health Agency of Canada’s Designated Officers are present at 33 Canadian points of entry that receive international travellers.
• All international air travel to Canada is being directed to one of four airports (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, or Montreal).
• All of Canada’s points of entry will continue to have 24/7 access to support from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Quarantine Officers through the remote Central Notification System.

IF PRESSED ON TESTING AND QUARANTINE OF TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS:
• The Government of Canada recognizes the essential role that temporary foreign workers (TFWs) play in maintaining Canada’s food security and economy.
• Since February 22, 2021, asymptomatic TFWs in certain agriculture agri-food, fish and seafood sectors are exempt from the requirement to await on-arrival test results at a government-authorized accommodation, provided they are travelling to their place of quarantine using private transportation, and travelling only with those who arrive in Canada with them.
• The Government of Canada has worked with provincial authorities to introduce tailored measures that support the safe and timely arrival of TFWs, including allowing private charter flights to land in airports that are close to the employers of TFWs.
• We are also, where needed and requested by the province, implementing alternative testing protocols for these workers in the agriculture, agri-food and seafood sectors to ensure that each worker is tested for COVID-19 as every other non-exempt traveller is required to do.
• These efforts are part of a government-wide approach to ensuring timely arrival of TFWs, while maintaining public health objectives to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19.

IF PRESSED ON TESTING AND QUARANTINE EXEMPTIONS FOR CANADIANS TRAVELLING TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO GET VACCINATED
• All travellers entering Canada, unless exempt, are required to comply with the Government of Canada border testing and quarantine measures.
• Currently, there are several measures under the existing Order in Council to facilitate exemption from pre-arrival testing, quarantine and post-arrival testing, including with written evidence from a licenced healthcare practitioner.

IF PRESSED ON TESTING AND QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVELLERS ARRIVING IN PRIVATE PLANES
• Since February 2021, Transport Canada has had in place a very strict Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts all international commercial and charter flights from arriving into Canada outside of the 4 major airports of Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. This includes international private charter and business aviation flights.
• Travellers arriving to these airports are subject to pre-departure, on-arrival, and post arrival testing, and quarantine requirements, including a stay of up to three nights in a government-authorized accommodation while they await the results of their on-arrival test.

• There are very few exceptions to the NOTAM, such as cargo flights, medevac operations, and very small privately owned recreational aircraft that are not used for conducting business. However, the Canada Border Services Agency still meets these excepted flights and provides test kits for days 1 and 8 to the travellers before they proceed to their suitable place of quarantine, as assessed by a quarantine officer.

IF PRESSED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COVID-19 TESTING AND SCREENING EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL'S REPORT
• The Government of Canada appreciates the work of the Expert Advisory Panel and the thoughtful analysis in its report.
• The Government will consider the Panel's recommendations as an important component in its determination of how testing and quarantine strategies should evolve.

IF PRESSED ON THE LABOUR DISPUTE AT PACIFIC GATEWAY HOTEL
• On March 27, 2020, the Pacific Gateway Hotel was designated as a federal quarantine facility in Vancouver. At that time, Public Health Agency of Canada officials met with hotel management and employees to explain how they could safely support aspects of the quarantine operation. A number of hotel staff continue to be employed by the hotel and support the operation.
• As with all of its quarantine facilities, the Government of Canada maintains ongoing engagement with respective hotel management, confirming its operational needs are in accordance with contract agreements, are supportive of the hotel industry and its employees, within the Government of Canada’s mandate of ensuring safe and effective quarantine operations.
• The Government of Canada is unable to comment on ongoing labour issues between employees and their employers.

BACKGROUND
The continued identification of new variants around the globe, with demonstrated increases in transmissibility, has introduced new risks to manage.

Between February 3, 2020 and May 21, 2021, the Governor in Council has made 53 Emergency Orders under the Quarantine Act to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in Canada – to reduce risks from other countries, to repatriate Canadians, and to strengthen measures at the border to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in Canada.

On Arrival Testing, Mandatory Hotel Stays and Enhanced Quarantine
On January 29, 2021, the Government of Canada announced enhanced testing and quarantine measures, in addition to the pre-departure testing requirement already in place. All air travellers to Canada, with limited exceptions, will face additional costs, including a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival, as well as a hotel stay when they return to Canada.

As of February 15, 2021, travellers five years of age and over entering at Canada’s land ports of entry, unless exempted, are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours before their arrival at the border, or proof of a positive COVID-19 test conducted between 14 and 90 days prior to arrival (similar to the existing requirement for pre-departure testing for air travellers).

As of February 22, 2021, all travellers, with limited exceptions, whether arriving by air or land, are required to
• submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, electronically via ArriveCAN before boarding their flight or crossing the border;
• take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival; and
• take a COVID-19 molecular test later during their quarantine.

As of February 22, 2021, travellers arriving by air are required to reserve and stay in a government-authorized accommodation (hotel) for up to three days, at their own cost, while they await the results of the COVID-19 molecular test they took on arrival, before completing the rest of their mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
On June 9, 2021, Ministers Hadju and Leblanc spoke to plans to begin easing some border measures including Phase I of a phased approach to introduce certain exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers who are already eligible to enter Canada.
The government will take a phased approach towards adjusting current border measures. As a first step in this approach, the federal government will allow fully vaccinated individuals (Canadians, permanent residents and Registered Indians) and other foreign nationals who are currently permitted to enter Canada) to do so without the requirement to stay in government-authorized accommodations. Fully vaccinated individuals are defined as having received the recommended dose of a Health Canada-accepted COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. These individuals would still be required to have a negative pre-departure molecular test, would be required to be tested upon arrival and quarantine until they receive a negative arrival test result. They could then be released from quarantine requirements upon receipt of that negative test result.

To promote travellers’ awareness and compliance with quarantine requirements, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working with security companies to help complete compliance checks for travellers arriving in Canada. Employees of these companies were trained by PHAC and authorized as Screening Officers under the Quarantine Act. These Screening Officers will visit travellers’ quarantine locations to establish contact, confirm identity and confirm that travellers are at the place of quarantine they identified upon entry into Canada.

Travel Advisories
The Government of Canada’s current travel advice to all Canadians is to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada (Level 3) and to avoid all cruise ship travel (Level 3). Although this travel advice is not binding on Canadians choosing to travel abroad, some travel insurance providers no longer cover travel booked on or after March 13, 2020, when these advisories came into effect.
Emergency Orders
Currently, the three emergency orders - the prohibition of entry from the United States (U.S), prohibition of entry from countries other than the U.S., and the quarantine, isolation, and other obligations order, are in place until at least June 21, 2021.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has been working with federal and provincial partners to facilitate commercial traffic to maintain the flow of essential goods and services, while continuing to protect the health of Canadians.

A travel ban is currently in place for most people entering Canada, including:
• Foreign nationals entering from the U.S., across all modes, for non-essential travel including recreation and/or tourism purposes;
• Foreign nationals entering Canada if they arrive from a foreign country other than the U.S., with some exceptions, such as those delivering essential services; and
• Foreign nationals entering from any country with signs or symptoms of respiratory illness.

Cross-border supply chains are vital to ensure the continued flow of goods, including food and medical supplies for all Canadians. As such, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is working with other federal partners to share information with commercial stakeholders to provide assurances that commercial traffic is not impeded.
Border Presence
Canada has 117 land border points of entry, 12 large international airports, 4 commercial marine ports, and 3 rail stations. PHAC has increased the physical presence of its designated officers, including quarantine officers, at 33 points of entry across Canada, including major land borders.

Testing is available on site at 16 of Canada’s busiest land ports of entry as of March 4, 2021. At land ports of entry with no on-site testing capacity, Border Services Officers will provided two take-home test swabs kits to every traveller.

Security at Designated Quarantine Facilities
PHAC has enhanced our security presence at DQFs and has developed and enhanced policies and procedures, and increased training to staff to prevent some escalating situations and emergency protocols. We continue our efforts to engage Police of Jurisdiction.
Government of Canada employees and security personnel are stationed at designated quarantine facilities to ensure secured, controlled and monitored entry and exit points. All travellers who must stay in one of these facilities are provided with information that articulates the details of the quarantine requirement, including a code of conduct and potential fines for non-compliant behaviour.
On Canadians Travelling to other Countries to get Vaccinated
There are liability considerations that need to be addressed with Canadians receiving vaccine outside of Canada. Health Canada is examining these issues particularly with respect to any arrangements that might be considered for cross border shipment of vaccines, or cross border movement for the purpose of receiving a vaccine.
On Temporary Foreign Workers
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has been working with federal and provincial partners to facilitate the entry, testing and quarantine of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) in Canada who work in the agriculture and agri-food, fish and seafood sector.
PHAC works closely with Employment and Social Development Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Service Canada to ensure that every TFW entering Canada has a complete welcome package that includes information on testing and quarantine, and knows what to do to meet their quarantine requirements.
Where a province or territory wants to take on the responsibility to conduct the day 8 testing, PHAC has worked to develop alternative testing protocols in these jurisdictions, meaning that for workers destined for smaller provinces, where airports, in general, are not operating, so that the risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 are minimized.
Enforcement
PHAC undertakes compliance and enforcement to ensure that travellers are abiding by the requirement to isolate/quarantine for 14 days. In those instances, where compliance cannot be confirmed, PHAC refers these travellers to the contracted security firms to verify compliance by way of an on-site compliance visit with the travelers. Personnel with these companies are trained and designated under the Quarantine Act as Screening Officers. In addition, PHAC refers travelers to the RCMP for compliance follow-up by local police. Maximum penalties for failing to comply with an order under the Quarantine Act (e.g. the Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations Order) include a fine of up to $750,000 or imprisonment for six months, or both.
Additionally, the Contraventions Act gives law enforcement partners (including RCMP, provincial and local police) the enforcement power to issue tickets to people who do not comply with the Quarantine Act, with fines of up to $5,000 for different Quarantine Act offences (this does not apply in AB, SK and the territories, as these jurisdictions have not signed on to the contraventions regime).
A person who causes a risk of imminent death or serious bodily harm to another person, while willfully or recklessly contravening the Quarantine Act or the regulations could be liable for a fine of up to $1 million or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
In addition to the Quarantine Act, individuals can also be subject to fines under Transport Canada’s Aeronautics Act for non-compliance in relation to mandatory requirements prior to boarding a flight to Canada.

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