Trudeau’s New Coronavirus Travel Rules

[anonymous5002]

Today, Prime Minister Trudeau issued new rules regarding travel, aimed at stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus. One of them reads as follows:

“In addition, airlines will prevent all travellers who present COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of their citizenship, from boarding international flights to Canada. Airlines will conduct a basic health assessment of all air travellers based on guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada.”

My question is whether it is legal to deny Canadian citizens boarding on a Canada-bound flight. Like, what am I supposed to do, if I am a Canadian citizen and I’ve got coronavirus symptoms? Surely, I cannot be refused to return to my country, regardless of any circumstances, even the fact that I may possess symptoms of the coronavirus. This just can’t be right, or am I getting something wrong?

 

[Qwertypod]

Sounds like that's what they implied today. They also made it sound like all flights might stop at some point soon, as well.

 

[scylla]

Today, Prime Minister Trudeau issued new rules regarding travel, aimed at stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus. One of them reads as follows:

“In addition, airlines will prevent all travellers who present COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of their citizenship, from boarding international flights to Canada. Airlines will conduct a basic health assessment of all air travellers based on guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada.”

My question is whether it is legal to deny Canadian citizens boarding on a Canada-bound flight. Like, what am I supposed to do, if I am a Canadian citizen and I’ve got coronavirus symptoms? Surely, I cannot be refused to return to my country, regardless of any circumstances, even the fact that I may possess symptoms of the coronavirus. This just can’t be right, or am I getting something wrong?

Yes, it's possible. Extreme measures have been put in place and the objective is to prevent one person from potentially infecting many more. Keep in mind that there have now been numerous instances where people have been prevented from leaving cruise ships for weeks. Many would say that's a denial of rights - but it's happening.

 

[Metufer]

What about permanent resident's immediate family? i.e spouses or parents, siblings? Are they not allowed as well?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Today, Prime Minister Trudeau issued new rules regarding travel, aimed at stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus. One of them reads as follows:

“In addition, airlines will prevent all travellers who present COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of their citizenship, from boarding international flights to Canada. Airlines will conduct a basic health assessment of all air travellers based on guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada.”

My question is whether it is legal to deny Canadian citizens boarding on a Canada-bound flight. Like, what am I supposed to do, if I am a Canadian citizen and I’ve got coronavirus symptoms? Surely, I cannot be refused to return to my country, regardless of any circumstances, even the fact that I may possess symptoms of the coronavirus. This just can’t be right, or am I getting something wrong?

There is a difference between being refused travel to Canada and being refused entry to Canada. You don't have the legal right to travel to Canada, so you could certainly be refused boarding. If you somehow manage to make it to a POE and present yourself to CBSA, you ahve the legal right of entry and can't be refused.

 

[anonymous5002]

Yes, it's possible. Extreme measures have been put in place and the objective is to prevent one person from potentially infecting many more. Keep in mind that there have now been numerous instances where people have been prevented from leaving cruise ships for weeks. Many would say that's a denial of rights - but it's happening.

The problem is that, basically, Trudeau is leaving Canadians, who may have the virus, stranded for an indefinite amount of time in another country, where they aren’t going to receive the same healthcare as in Canada. And, even if they do, it’s an issue of finding the nearest hospital, sorting out all the financial questions, etc. Certainly something that elderly Canadians, who are now on holiday in, say, the Caribbean, don’t want to go through. It’s one thing barring foreign citizens from entry; doing the same thing with Canadians is completely different.

Talking about cruise ships, look at the UK. Rather than refusing to accept UK citizens stranded on cruise ships in the Caribbean, they are sending planes to get them over back home. That is what I call responsable action on the part of the government.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The problem is that, basically, Trudeau is leaving Canadians, who may have the virus, stranded for an indefinite amount of time in another country, where they aren’t going to receive the same healthcare as in Canada. And, even if they do, it’s an issue of finding the nearest hospital, sorting out all the financial questions, etc. Certainly something that elderly Canadians, who are now on holiday in, say, the Caribbean, don’t want to go through. It’s one thing barring foreign citizens from entry; doing the same thing with Canadians is completely different.

Talking about cruise ships, look at the UK. Rather than refusing to accept UK citizens stranded on cruise ships in the Caribbean, they are sending planes to get them over back home. That is what I call responsable action on the part of the government.

If someone is showing symptoms or has COVID-19, a plane is the LAST place that they should be. Being Canadian doesn't overrule the right of everyone else on that plane to not be exposed.

Not sure what you mean with the UK reference. Canada chartered many planes to repatriate citizens.

 

[Ali khan1011]

What about permanent resident's immediate family? i.e spouses or parents, siblings? Are they not allowed as well?

It would not apply to air crews, travelers arriving in Canada in transit to a third country, Canadian Permanent Residents, diplomats, or immediate family members of Canadian citizens.

 

[Bs65]

What about permanent resident's immediate family? i.e spouses or parents, siblings? Are they not allowed as well?

Definition of immediate family is spouse and dependants, not parents or siblings.

Read the end of this link below.

Ultimately the airline decides who based on the board/no board instructions they will have been given who can board or not and as above if someone is suspected of being COVID positive they will be denied regardless of status/citizenship much same as an airline has the right to deny boarding if someone is drunk or drugged


How an airline is supposed to determine who is an immediate family member or not is a mystery unless they are all travelling together maybe.

Anyone who is not a citizen or a PR should contact their airline in advance, not easy at the moment, rather than just rely on a public forum where everyone has same access to the same public information


https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/03/new-measures-for-covid-19-response.html

For practical purposes, the denial of boarding would apply to:

• all foreign nationals on flights to Canada other than trans-border flights, and
• any foreign national on a trans-border flight who has resided outside the US and Canada in the last 14 days.

In simple terms, you cannot board a plane to Canada if you have been outside of Canada or the United States in the last 14 days, unless you are a Canadian Citizen, Canadian Permanent Resident or in transit to a 3rd country.


The measure will come into force on Wednesday, March 18, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT. It would not apply to air crews, travelers arriving in Canada in transit to a third country, Canadian Permanent Residents, diplomats, or immediate family members of Canadian citizens.

 

[Ali khan1011]

Definition of immediate family is spouse and dependants, not parents or siblings.

Read the end of this link below.

Ultimately the airline decides who based on the board/no board instructions they will have been given who can board or not and as above if someone is suspected of being COVID positive they will be denied regardless of status/citizenship much same as an airline has the right to deny boarding if someone is drunk or drugged


How an airline is supposed to determine who is an immediate family member or not is a mystery unless they are all travelling together maybe.

Anyone who is not a citizen or a PR should contact their airline in advance, not easy at the moment, rather than just rely on a public forum where everyone has same access to the same public information


https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/03/new-measures-for-covid-19-response.html

For practical purposes, the denial of boarding would apply to:

• all foreign nationals on flights to Canada other than trans-border flights, and
• any foreign national on a trans-border flight who has resided outside the US and Canada in the last 14 days.

In simple terms, you cannot board a plane to Canada if you have been outside of Canada or the United States in the last 14 days, unless you are a Canadian Citizen, Canadian Permanent Resident or in transit to a 3rd country.


The measure will come into force on Wednesday, March 18, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT. It would not apply to air crews, travelers arriving in Canada in transit to a third country, Canadian Permanent Residents, diplomats, or immediate family members of Canadian citizens.

The spouse name will be present on the ID when you present it at the airport. You can show your COPR which states if you are married and to whome you are married.

 

[Gsk47]

Hi
My and wife's CoPR is till 3rd July, my wife 's sister is Citizen, they enquired at Canada Border Security Agency, Immigration Officer, Our Airline ( BA), response is

- airline is allowing to board as we have valid travel documents
- immigration office is allowing CoPRs unless border security is fine
- Border Security is allowing as wife s sister is Citizen...

Overall CoPRs are allowed if citizen relationship can be proved


Do we have similar case here please?

 

[Buletruck]

The problem is that, basically, Trudeau is leaving Canadians, who may have the virus, stranded for an indefinite amount of time in another country, where they aren’t going to receive the same healthcare as in Canada. And, even if they do, it’s an issue of finding the nearest hospital, sorting out all the financial questions, etc. Certainly something that elderly Canadians, who are now on holiday in, say, the Caribbean, don’t want to go through. It’s one thing barring foreign citizens from entry; doing the same thing with Canadians is completely different.

Talking about cruise ships, look at the UK. Rather than refusing to accept UK citizens stranded on cruise ships in the Caribbean, they are sending planes to get them over back home. That is what I call responsable action on the part of the government.

If you have or suspect you have contracted the Corona virus, you should be in quarantine. Being a Canadian overseas doesn’t change that. It’s unrealistic to assume everyone outside of Canada is going to make it back to the country and endangering others on whatever flights are available isn’t a particularly intelligent choice.