@legalfalcon and other members of the group.
Dear All,
Would like to get the groups opinion on my interpretation of the below travel restrictions to Canada. For persons with valid COPR's and Visas in the Passports (prior or post 18 March 2020)
1. As per the website the below people are allowed to enter:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html
On this page
2. As foreign nationals the above bold text section takes us to the below link (extract below):
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html#other
All other foreign nationals
To be eligible, you must meet
one of the following requirements:
- You must be travelling directly from the US for a non-discretionary purpose.
- You must be exempt from the travel restrictions and be travelling for a non-discretionary purpose.
Travellers coming from outside the US who are exempt from the travel restrictions
- temporary foreign workers
- some international students
- some people who have been approved to become a permanent resident of Canada, but who are not yet permanent residents
- immediate family members with written authorization from IRCC to reunite with a temporary resident of Canada (see Uniting with immediate family members for more information)
- transiting passengers (must remain in the secure transit area of a Canadian airport to complete their connection)
- members of the Canadian forces, visiting forces coming to perform official duties, Department of National Defence and their immediate family members
- accredited diplomats and their immediate family members (includes North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO], those under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement, other organizations)
- air and marine crew members
- French citizens who live in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and have been in only Canada, the US or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon during the 14 days before the day they seek to enter Canada
- any person who does not pose a significant harm to public health, in the opinion of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, and who will provide an essential service while in Canada
- any person whose presence in Canada is in the national interest, in the opinion of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness; or Minister of Foreign Affairs
- If you fall under this exemption, you don’t have to demonstrate that you’re entering Canada for a non-discretionary reason.
- any person who is coming at the invitation of the Minister of Health for the purpose of COVID-19 assistance
- any person whose purpose is to make medical deliveries
You must also have a
quarantine plan that shows how you will quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada.
This plan is mandatory.
3. My interpretation of the above highlighted statement is that the Chief Public health Officer has made the below essential services and functions exempt from the restrictions.
Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic (link below)
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/crtcl-nfrstrctr/esf-sfe-en.aspx
Canada’s
National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure defines critical infrastructure as the processes, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets, and services essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. The Strategy classifies critical infrastructure in Canada according to ten sectors:
- Energy and Utilities
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Finance
- Health
- Food
- Water
- Transportation
- Safety
- Government
- Manufacturing
A number of jurisdictions within Canada have announced that business closures and border measures are in effect. Provincial and territorial announcements have highlighted that only organizations necessary to provide “essential services” are permitted to operate.
In conclusion, any person falling into one of the above categories may travel to Canada permanently settle, not sure if I'm confusing or interpreting the above incorrectly.
Thanks in advance.