OTTAWA – Canada is not taking any chances with the Delta variant and again extended its flight ban on India. 

Federal transport minister Omar Alghabra, announced the extended ban Monday on flights arriving from India. The ban is now scheduled to end on Aug. 21 but realistically, the ban will extend into September and many experts say won’t be lifted until after the federal election which could be as early as September.

Canada introduced a travel ban on both India and Pakistan on April 22 due to concerns on rising cases of COVID-19 variants. All passenger and business flights from the two countries were suspended.

The ban was initially in place for 30 days but it was extended once for Pakistan and then lifted last month on June 21.

Meanwhile, the Canadian government has announced it is easing travel restrictions on fully-vaccinated tourists beginning in August.

Canada has also lifted other travel restrictions over the past month. As of late June, all Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) Holders (i.e., newly approved immigrants) are now allowed to travel to Canada and complete their landings. In addition, Canada now exempts fully-vaccinated travellers from needing to quarantine.

India has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the world during the pandemic, with a recent blood serum survey suggesting that two-thirds of the country’s population have antibodies against the coronavirus.

On Monday, India reported 38,164 new COVID-19 cases and 499 deaths, according to the World Health Organization, well below the crest of a huge wave of cases that peaked in early May.

The relaxed travel rules come amid Canada’s recent success in fighting COVID-19. The country now enjoys one of the highest vaccination rates in the world with some 80 per cent having received one shot and over 40 per cent being fully vaccinated. In addition, case counts last week were in the 400-per-day range compared with a peak of over 9,000 per day in April 2021. This has also allowed provinces across the country to reopen and reduce their social distancing requirements.

India is by far Canada’s leading source country of new immigrants and international students. In recent years Indians have accounted for 20 per cent of new permanent residents and 30 per cent of new students.

Canada is pursuing its most ambitious immigration targets ever. Beginning this year, it is seeking to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants annually to support its post-COVID economic recovery.

A growing share of Canada’s new immigrants are former international students. Canadian government research shows former students tend to integrate successfully into the country’s labour market. As such, Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and other skilled worker programs offer advantages to international students such as extra points and dedicated pathways.