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
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.