While multiple sources said Ottawa is “likely” to drop those mandatory requirements by Sept. 30, they added that the proposal has not received a final signature from the prime minister. September 30 is the expiry date of the current COVID-19 Emergency Order on border measures. Ottawa may renew this emergency order, amend it or let it expire on that date. Officials spoke to CBC on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The development was first reported by The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.
Border towns “left behind”, mayors say
On Tuesday, a group of border city MPs and mayors published an open letter calling on the Canadian and US governments to end pandemic border measures, including Canada’s random testing regime. “We have been left behind in the recovery effort as both countries have largely returned to normal day-to-day life,” the letter said. The letter was signed by the mayors of 15 border communities in Canada — including Drew Dilkens of Windsor, Ont. — plus seven US mayors and 16 congressmen. All but one of the MPs — Brian Masse, NDP MP for Windsor West — are members of the Conservative Party. The letter echoes long-standing calls from mayors, lawmakers and the business community for the federal government to ease border measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. Canada currently requires travelers to use ArriveCAN to declare their vaccination status and travel plans. Vaccination requirements against COVID-19 also apply on both sides of the border. Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has defended ArriveCAN in the past, saying there would be more delays at border crossings if it wasn’t a requirement. Alghabra said the application and vaccination requirement to enter Canada makes the process more efficient. “Without that, the verification process would be manual and it would be a lot more complicated and it would take a lot more time,” he said during an appearance in Windsor last month.
