Northern Ontario reaction to vaccine travel requirement ending
The Canadian government is dropping the requirement that domestic and outbound international travellers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, effective June 20.
This change will allow unvaccinated Canadians to board planes and trains, some other countries still require vaccination, so it is best to check your destination.
Canada's re-entry requirements will remain in effect and all passengers will continue to have to wear face masks.
Upon re-entering the country, those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 will still be required to continue testing and quarantine requirements.
Terry Bos, the president and CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation, told CTV News this will help "travel bottleneck," which has trickled down to northern Ontario airports in the last several weeks.
Terry Bos, the president and CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation, on the feds dropping the COVID-19 vaccine travel mandate. June 14/22 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
"For instance, here in Sault Ste. Marie, the 11 p.m. arrival has been cancelled three days in a row now, which means the 6 a.m. flight is not going out," he said.
The requirement to use the ArriveCAN app to show proof of vaccination upon arrival will continue and all travellers will have to continue to abide by other country's entry requirements, potentially limiting the destinations unvaccinated travellers will be able to visit. Many countries, including the U.S., continue to require proof of vaccination upon entry.
Northern airport traffic has not yet rebounded
At the North Bay Jack Garland Airport, compared to 2021, the airport has seen a 12 per cent increase in total aircraft movements, however, that is relative to it seeing only 40 per cent of the movement it saw in 2019.
"Passenger traffic has also increased compared to the same period in 2021, however, it is overall 70 per cent less than used the airport in the same period in 2019," said Bryan Avery, North Bay's airport manager.
"We continue to see gradual positive increases and today's news will support continued growth."
Foreign nationals coming into Canada will still be required to be vaccinated in order to enter, though they would be able to depart the country if unvaccinated.
The federal mandates requiring all passengers on planes or trains to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding were first promised by the Liberals during the last federal election, and came into effect in October 2021.
The change also means unvaccinated employees at federally-regulated facilities, like at airports can return to work.
"I understand that the changes that are being made will allow a lot of aviation workers throughout the industry to return to their jobs, which will certainly help with the bottleneck," Bos said.
However, "due to the unique nature of cruise ship travel," the vaccination requirements for passengers and crew of cruise ships will remain in effect.
Chris Mayne runs 'Mayne Travel,' a North Bay travel agency.
He expects these changes will likely prompt more people to think about travelling by plane when making their summer vacation plans.
"February, March, April, has almost been a normal season. I don’t think anyone foresaw people travelling in the numbers that they have been and I don’t think anyone saw the difficulties of getting staff back," he said.
"It might encourage those who were not vaccinated."
Travellers in northern Ontario welcomed the news with open arms Tuesday.
"I have relatives in Florida I want to visit. The bottleneck was a huge concern," one woman told CTV News in North Bay.
"I have some family members that chose not to get vaccinated and I want to spend time with them, so I see more travel in our future," said another.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.