Dear Members,
This afternoon, Ministers Hadju, Blair, Alghabra, Mendicino and Leblanc, provided an update on Canada’s border measures and entry provisions.
Effective August 9, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., travel to Canada will be permitted for fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent U.S. residents (for those currently residing in the U.S.). The mandatory 3-night hotel quarantine program will also be eliminated. During today’s announcement Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu, thanked hoteliers directly for their support of this program.
Additionally, effective September 7, 2021, travel to Canada will be permitted to all fully vaccinated international travellers.
The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) was a strong advocate for the Government to adopt the advice of the COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel, and safely reopen Canada to travel, alongside our partners at the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable. We are very pleased to now see a plan in place for the reopening of Canada’s border.
The Ministers also provided the following updates:
- Effective August 9, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to be tested upon arrival. However, travellers may be subject to mandatory random testing upon arrival at the airport. No changes have been made to testing and screening requirements for travellers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
- Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents living in the U.S. will be able to visit Canada without having to quarantine for two weeks.
- Adults entering Canada will need to present proof of vaccination using the government's ArriveCAN app or website before boarding a flight. Travellers will need to be fully vaccinated 14-days prior to entry.
- Unvaccinated travellers under 12 will be permitted to travel and will be exempt from quarantine so long as their parent(s) or guardian(s) are fully vaccinated.
- Effective August 9, international flights will now be allowed to land in Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton – in addition to the 4 previously permitted entry points.
- Canada extended the ban on direct flights from India until at least August 21, 2021.
While this is good news, as you know, this reopening alone will not save the Canadian hotel industry during the second worst year in recent history. We know that our recovery will be slower than other sectors, and we also know that some segments within our sector will take longer to build back than others. Tailored wage and fixed cost support will be critical over the upcoming months for some, and particularly the September-May period.
With a reopening plan now in place, HAC will be pushing full throttle on continued survival funding for the sector and we will need your help. Please have a meeting with your Member of Parliament to help us reiterate this important message (guidance available here).
