final decision on arrivecan could come as soon as thursday
sources speaking to the national post indicate that the decision to scrap the app and the vaccine requirements has not been finalized
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ottawa — a final decision on the ongoing use of the arrivecan app, along with other pandemic border and travel restrictions, could come as early as thursday, a government source has confirmed to the national post. the arrivecan app has been mandatory since november 2020, first forcing travellers to disclose their covid-19 symptoms and then as of last year requiring them to input their vaccination status into the app.
while domestic travellers have been able to fly without proof of vaccination since june, international arrivals are still required to show proof of two covid-19 shots. unvaccinated canadians can enter the country, but they face a 14-day quarantine, while foreign visitors are simply banned.
while multiple reports have indicated the government will scrap the app and the vaccine requirement, sources speaking to the national post indicate that decision has not been finalized. a decision on whether to suspend the requirement to wear masks on planes and trains is also still up in the air.
after briefly suspending random testing at airports, the government has required some travellers to get tested shortly after they arrive at offsite facilities. sources indicate those tests could be tossed aside as well.
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the decision is ultimately in the hands of prime minister justin trudeau, who returns to canada thursday after attending the queen’s funeral in london and the united nations general assembly in new york. the cabinet is set to meet on thursday afternoon and the issue could be finalized then.
an order-in-council, the legislative mechanism that allows for the requirements, is set to expire on sept. 30, which means the government has to make a decision before that day or the current measures will expire.
tourism minister randy boissonnault said the government would make the call based on the available science.
“i can’t share any cabinet confidences or what’s taking place right now, but we’re going to continue to follow the science. we’re going to continue to make sure that as we open up the economy we do so in a systematic and respectful way.”
transport minister omar alghabra said the government has made changes as necessary throughout the pandemic.
“we have adjusted them throughout the period as the situation has emerged and whenever we will reach a decision, you certainly will hear about it,” he said.
if canada removed vaccine requirement, it would join many nations around the world who have removed them, but some countries including the u.s. still require it from international arrivals. alghabra said that won’t be a factor in canada’s decision.
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“we have always made the decision on our own circumstances, so we don’t wait on other countries.”
the issue came up in liberal caucus wednesday, but sources indicate there were no firm commitments to scrap the requirements, though many mps in caucus have been encouraging the government for months to leave the rules behind.
bordertown mayors, airlines, airports and many other groups have all been pushing the government to scrap the app for months. arrivecan has experienced glitches that ordered travellers to quarantine unnecessarily.
conservative mp marilyn gladu, who represents sarnia, ont., said it’s past time the government scrapped the app and vaccine mandates.
“i hope they obliterate it because at the borders, this has caused a huge issue, big reductions in americans coming over for tourism and economic activities. so i’m happy to see it gone.”
gladu suggested the government was finally considering getting rid of the app because of new conservative leader pierre poilievre, who has campaigned aggressively for scrapping vaccine mandates and arrivecan.
boissonnault was quick to dismiss that suggestion.
“the measures that we put in place during covid have nothing to do with the conservative party and its leadership at that time and nothing that they’re doing on their side affects how we’re governing.”
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• email: rtumilty@postmedia.com | twitter: ryantumilty
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