The federal government is expected to announce Thursday (March 17) that it’s dropping the pre-arrival COVID-19 test requirement at airports and land border crossings, effective April 1, according to the Surrey Board of Trade. “We look forward to hearing the details of this announcement tomorrow,” Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade, said.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

OTTAWA – Canada is dropping the COVID-19 testing requirement for fully vaccinated travellers on April fools day.

The federal government is expected to announce Thursday (March 17) that it’s dropping the pre-arrival COVID-19 test requirement at airports and land border crossings, effective April 1, according to the Surrey Board of Trade. 

“We look forward to hearing the details of this announcement tomorrow,” Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade, said in a press release Wednesday.

While Huberman doesn’t have the full details of the federal announcement, she hopes it will provide more clarity for travellers to support economies that have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic. 

“I think that we need to ensure that all of the confusion that travellers are facing is removed. There’s been so much confusion and it’s really compromised the hospitality and tourism sector,” she explained.

“We know we are going to have to live with COVID-19.”

The board has been calling for the end of restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers, which it says will ultimately remove unnecessary and restrictive rules affecting the travel industry. It also urges the government to remove the $5,000 fine for travellers who test positive 10 days after crossing the land border.

Since Feb. 28, all fully vaccinated travellers to Canada have been able to use proof of a negative rapid COVID-19 test instead of a PCR test to gain entry to the country.

But while travellers are permitted to use proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test, they have a shorter window of time to take the test prior to departure. Further, not all rapid tests are accepted as proof and they must be professionally administered at a pharmacy or laboratory or “observed” — meaning that a health care professional observes the test via a telehealth option.

The Government of Canada also adjusted the travel health notice from level three to level two. As a result, travellers are no longer recommended to avoid all travel for non-essential purposes. That said, they should consider the availability of medical services in a foreign country, and plan for the potential high costs associated with medical treatment and extending their trip, should they test positive for COVID-19 while abroad.

The Surrey Board of Trade asked the Federal Government to:

1.     Remove pre-departure testing entirely for fully vaccinated travellers on or before April 1st, which is when the regulations will be updated. Continuing to test, targeting solely the travel sector, is unnecessary and not rooted in science.

2.     Remove the $5,000 fine

If someone who has tested positive in the last ten days crosses the land border into Surrey, they may be subject to a $5,000 fine.

3.     Remove COVID-19 testing at the border

Travel is no riskier than many other domestic activities, and there is no scientific reason to single it out. Canada’s current COVID-19 travel restrictions are obsolete and out of step with countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Denmark, which have removed all testing requirements at their respective borders for fully vaccinated travellers.

4.     Remove the confusion

There is confusion around the rules and fear of getting stuck abroad has established an environment of uncertainty for travellers. Travellers who are fully vaccinated should no longer be subject to out-of-pocket testing expenses and outdated measures.