(Ottawa and Montreal) The Trudeau government confirmed on Tuesday that it was suspending the obligation to be vaccinated to board a plane or a train, as of June 20. However, travelers must continue to wear a mask while traveling.
Posted at 8:29
Updated at 2:50 p.m.
Although the majority of provinces have already announced the end of the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport and public places, Ottawa believes that this measure is still in place in a context where the pandemic is not yet over, indicated Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.
“This is an effective and inexpensive measure that serves to protect people and workers in environments where space is limited and contact is close,” he argued, saying based on expert recommendations.
PHOTO PATRICK DOYLE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport of Canada
Travelers arriving from abroad will still need to declare their vaccination status before their arrival using the application. ArriveCAN. Those who are not vaccinated will still have to undergo quarantine, Alghabra said. According to him, ArriveCAN remains an essential tool for Canadian authorities to maintain control over the arrival in the country of travelers who have not been vaccinated and who could facilitate the spread of variants of COVID-19.
“It is now clear that the COVID situation is not the same today as it was in the fall when we implemented the vaccination mandate for travelers and transport workers. The situation has changed thanks to the millions of Canadians who rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated,” said the Minister.
Federal employees
Federal government employees, including police officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, will no longer be subject to the vaccination obligation as of the same date, indicated the President of the Treasury, Mona Fortier. She pointed out that employees who have not been vaccinated and who have been suspended without pay will be able to return to work. But Ottawa reserves the right to reimpose the vaccination obligation next fall if the evolution of the pandemic requires it, she insisted.
For the past few weeks, the Trudeau government has been under intense pressure from the Conservative Party and from tourism and travel associations to end the vaccination requirement, in order to ease the pressure at Canada’s airports and to align the rules with provincial public health measures.
Present at the press conference, the Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, indicated that the federal government did not rule out the idea of recommending a third dose to be fully vaccinated instead of two doses if the epidemiological situation l demanded.
PHOTO PATRICK DOYLE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health of Canada
“The Omicron variant has shown us that two doses are no longer enough, because over time, the immunity acquired thanks to the two doses of the vaccine is reduced,” said Mr. Duclos, inviting Canadians to get their dose of booster as soon as possible or their fourth dose if eligible.
Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the changes announced Tuesday were not aimed at reducing wait times at airports. “These wait times are mainly caused by labor shortages. The announcements made today are based on scientific evidence and they will have no impact on the delays that are felt at airports,” he warned.
Dubé maintains his call for caution
In a press briefing on Tuesday in Bécancour, the Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, spoke of a “transition period” to be operated.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec
We, [pour le masque obligatoire], we waited until June 18, among other things, for public transport. But I keep saying – and sometimes I look like the bad guy – that you have to be careful. The virus is still there, there are still around sixty hospitalizations every day.
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec
He argues that it is still “normal” for Canada to “make this crossing”, even if it means that “there will be even less control”. “What I would say to people is to continue to protect themselves in places where they are less comfortable, especially in public places,” said Mr. Dubé.
In Quebec, wearing a mask is no longer mandatory in public places since May 14. Ditto in the school network and early childhood centers since May 16. However, it remains mandatory for the moment in the health network and public transport. The mandatory mask will however fall on the metro and buses in four days, on June 18.