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Naheulbeuck

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Aug 14, 2015
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These are two separate things - the article was a little vague about people just 'showing up at the border and saying they don't have money for hotel stay.' That's where I think the question comes up of how they boarded in the first place.

As for government setting regs to not let travellers board they can do this. It's not a charter violation. They're not preventing you from entering Canada - you just have to pay money. Same as you would have to pay for an air ticket.
I also read that article and felt this was so poor Journalistic reporting...

They mention in passing that people just need to say they don't have the money but at no point provide support for that claim, the person they interviewed and talked about was in a completely different situation, and never said she couldn't pay, she could not go to the hotel she booked through no fault of hers, and after dropping that kind of bombshell early on and in the title of their article never talk about it again really.

It is clickbait and garbage journalism in my opinion.

Nothing about the actual process to board a plane if you want to claim you can't afford to pay for the hotel quarantine, nothing about the fact that people need to provide all their information in those hotels and that it would seem fairly easy for the government to come after people who claim it while having plenty of funds to pay for it themselves, nobody who actually successfully did it in their article, and the whole article is hearsay from that lady in a situation completely different from what the article claims...
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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I also read that article and felt this was so poor Journalistic reporting...
I am getting tired of reading articles - so much from this same source - that always leave me with more questions, scratching my head and going "wait, that can't be right."

I wanted to give them a tiny bit of credit for at least contacting the government for comment, even if they didn't get one.

But on the other hand: this is terrible journalism in one other sense, which is that I can guarantee some [euphemism for very clever individual] will show up at some airport and be refused boarding because they read this article and didn't check for themselves.

In other words, it's not just bad journalism, it's actually irresponsible - it's going to cost some traveller money, time, inconvenience and a lot of hassle because they read this trash.

And if history in this thread is any guide, somehow that will be the government's fault, too.
 

Naheulbeuck

Hero Member
Aug 14, 2015
315
191
I am getting tired of reading articles - so much from this same source - that always leave me with more questions, scratching my head and going "wait, that can't be right."

I wanted to give them a tiny bit of credit for at least contacting the government for comment, even if they didn't get one.

But on the other hand: this is terrible journalism in one other sense, which is that I can guarantee some [euphemism for very clever individual] will show up at some airport and be refused boarding because they read this article and didn't check for themselves.

In other words, it's not just bad journalism, it's actually irresponsible - it's going to cost some traveller money, time, inconvenience and a lot of hassle because they read this trash.

And if history in this thread is any guide, somehow that will be the government's fault, too.
I completely agree, this is a clear requirement on the government's website....but I had to dig a bit to find it, because I don't find a great, front and center place, where they list all the requirements, instead it tends to be link, after link after link and each link trickles a bit of information due to the numerous different scenarios possible.

Travellers must present proof of having reserved and pre-paid for their accommodation through ArriveCAN.

But the "journalist" never bothered to mention it, link to the requirement to board a plane or anything, and yet at the bottom of the article they list their "Journalistic Standards", it is just laughable. There is plenty to criticize about the response to Covid, why they can't have any principles, getting sources/evidence in their articles is beyond me...

So instead of digging to find the information they need, people will see this article, show up to the airport and be turned around because the article and news website didn't bother to have a bone of journalistic integrity...
 

Western Mountain Man

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Nov 2, 2018
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Canada
I am curious to the accuracy of the article as well, because I thought that you did need that plan of the hotel before boarding. At the same time, Canadians/PR's are allowed to come home anytime as their charter right - so how can they even deny boarding?
The boarding plan is required for all incoming travelers.
Unfortunately the government has put the onus upon the individual airlines to police their policy prior to the flights. 'Some' airlines feel they are not
in the business to police individual travelers regarding this protocol and are letting the passengers board the plane. They may even have fake
covid test results and the airline is not in a position to verify. Arrive in our great country ( claim no money ) and get sent to the free government
quarantine positive hotel. May even infect a few people along the way...... Welcome to Canada !
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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'Some' airlines feel they are not
in the business to police individual travelers regarding this protocol and are letting the passengers board the plane. They may even have fake
covid test results and the airline is not in a position to verify.
Do you have actual information on airlines doing this?

Under the various agreements with airlines (landing rights), the airlines can face rather onerous fees and penalties if government decides they're negligent on these requirements. (The government can also tigthen the requirements on airlines if they're found to be ignoring stuff like this)

Yes, there is always a limit as to how much an airline can do to verify these things - they're not really in the business of knowing how to check for fake covid tests - but then the individual can face pretty severe fines for providing fake documents.

So: there's no way this is going to be perfect. But lacking any confirmed information (like by journalists who actually do their jobs), I can't give this claim that much credence.
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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Also, I'm confused - in requiring travellers to quarantine, are they to be termed government gulag prison camps or free government holiday spas? Or is it both at the same time? (Which would be an accomplishment really)

Just so I'm down with the current lingo.
 
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canuck78

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Jun 18, 2017
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Personally, the measures did not deter my travel, since my travel was unavoidable. It did, however, compel me to skip the quarantine altogether through availing myself of section 6h of the orders in council. I was originally planning to self-quarantine for the whole 2 weeks in an airbnb, it would have been a nice vacation before starting my new job. But a 2000$ pricetag? No way. Have fun with that.

In order to use section 6h to avoid the quarantine, you need to report to work within the first two weeks of your stay in Canada. So, I fly in on a Friday, and on Monday I'm at work at the hospital. The border agent did helpfully point this out to me, to make sure I would be able to skip the hotel. Then I got a little sticker on my passport, and was waived through testing, waived through security, and off I went in an Uber to my airbnb.

I was mandated to self-isolate when not at work, and I did that scrupulously (groceries delivered, etc). But I just wanted to point out that the measures made me skip quarantine, instead of deterring my travel, which is deeply ironic.
How did the hospital not mandate that you not go to work for 14 days? That is more irresponsible than the government quarantine.
 

Western Mountain Man

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Nov 2, 2018
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Canada
Also, I'm confused - in requiring travellers to quarantine, are they to be termed government gulag prison camps or free government holiday spas? Or is it both at the same time? (Which would be an accomplishment really)

Just so I'm down with the current lingo.
Well, I guess that depends on your perspective.
Some quarantine hotels are nice and some are not, hence termed both at the same time. They all want to cash in on this game and many travelers are not happy. Some are going to great extents to get around the rules and posting their experience on other media platforms. I'm sure the happy travelers are not saying too much! Maybe I'm a little naïve as a local, but I do have some vested interests and have been in contact with the hotels directly.

So, if you absolutely had to travel, some may just pick the cheapest hotel knowing they can leave soon after a negative test result returns.
The hotel benefits because the 3 days are non refundable. Cheapest is not the best and if your test result comes back positive, which is happening more frequently now then that's another issue heading towards the 'galag' . Personally, I wouldn't risk catching covid after seeing what it has done around here.
 

Naheulbeuck

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Aug 14, 2015
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How did the hospital not mandate that you not go to work for 14 days? That is more irresponsible than the government quarantine.
Well it is not yet a done deal since he has not yet travelled and I guess it does depend on his work, if the need is actually urgent, this is in place for that, however per Travel.gc, he may still be asked to demonstrate the immediate nature of work required in Canada and why he is unable to quarantine for 14 days.

He also has not indicated anywhere that his workplace is actually aware that he won't be quarantining and coming to work right after his travel, it seems that he has decided that it was the best way for him to travel and avoid the quarantine, not sure that it was determined along with his employer. I am guessing he may have an interesting first day if that's the case once he is asked whether he has travelled in the past 14 days, also he may just not be asked either, depends on hospital policies but most hospitals require their staff to disclose all travel within 14 days and have rules in place to determine when staff can resume work following travels.
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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What a hot mess of journalism. This doesn't clarify at all the complaints or issues referred to above (with the piece):

-Broad claim you just show up in Canada and say "I don't have the money." No clarification, no explanation of the original rules, no mention that without prepaying for rooms, you simply may not be allowed to board a flight (government's web-site is crystal clear: "Travellers must present proof of having reserved and pre-paid for their accommodation through ArriveCAN." Worst of all, the story leads with this idea, that you just show up and say I have no money as if it's a free pass - his first sentence is there's a "way around" it.

-This woman's travel experience is unfortunate and a mess - although I remain unclear whether she had a reservation or actually paid for it in advance. (That would be the type of thing an actual journalist would check into). But okay, let's be charitable and assume she actually had a fully paid-for booking. Then it's just the hotel's fault - for some reason they didn't have her room available - and the hotel did what it could (checked, but no room at the other inns either), and then contacted the government to deal with it. They didn't charge her for it.

The one part of this that seems increasingly likely is that there's some issue with airlines actually enforcing the "have pre-paid accommodation" bit.
 
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sgp1986

Star Member
Jan 2, 2020
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I know no one here is an expert, but please give me your opinions on if I'm reading this right.

You may only quarantine with people in these situations if:

  • they consent to the quarantine or are the parent or minor in a parent-minor relationship
If I read that correctly, if my wife picks me up at the US/CA land border, and plans to quarantine with me for 2 weeks, that won't be a problem, right? I've been vaccinated so I'm not worried about getting her sick. Speaking of, when crossing the border, would showing my vax card be suitable or will I still need the negative test results?
 

Western Mountain Man

Hero Member
Nov 2, 2018
667
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Canada
What a hot mess of journalism. This doesn't clarify at all the complaints or issues referred to above (with the piece):

-Broad claim you just show up in Canada and say "I don't have the money." No clarification, no explanation of the original rules, no mention that without prepaying for rooms, you simply may not be allowed to board a flight (government's web-site is crystal clear: "Travellers must present proof of having reserved and pre-paid for their accommodation through ArriveCAN." Worst of all, the story leads with this idea, that you just show up and say I have no money as if it's a free pass - his first sentence is there's a "way around" it.

-This woman's travel experience is unfortunate and a mess - although I remain unclear whether she had a reservation or actually paid for it in advance. (That would be the type of thing an actual journalist would check into). But okay, let's be charitable and assume she actually had a fully paid-for booking. Then it's just the hotel's fault - for some reason they didn't have her room available - and the hotel did what it could (checked, but no room at the other inns either), and then contacted the government to deal with it. They didn't charge her for it.

The one part of this that seems increasingly likely is that there's some issue with airlines actually enforcing the "have pre-paid accommodation" bit.
I agree it's definitely a hot mess that some would rather shuffle under the table and keep it quiet.
See the link from the actual Global News report from Toronto.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7753422/covid-quarantine-hotels-bills-canada/

Even though the (government's web-site is crystal clear) there are discrepancies when the traveler checks-in for the flight and staff are not police.
Many are unsure about local policies that keep changing. There can be age, language, cultural barriers and not everyone owns a cell phone. The
airlines are scrambling for your business now and they surely want you to have a comfortable flight while traveling to Canada during a pandemic.

Unfortunately this woman's travel did not work out well especially if the flight had arrived late. I'm surprised the hotel couldn't accommodate her?
She should have received the VIP room at no extra charge because the pre-paid quarantine bookings are non refundable.

I know one thing for sure, if you're able to get on the plane without presenting the ArriveCan app. and show up here and say " I don't have money. "
That's a sure-fire trip to the ' Gulag. '
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
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I agree it's definitely a hot mess that some would rather shuffle under the table and keep it quiet.
See the link from the actual Global News report from Toronto.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7753422/covid-quarantine-hotels-bills-canada/

Even though the (government's web-site is crystal clear) there are discrepancies when the traveler checks-in for the flight and staff are not police.
Many are unsure about local policies that keep changing. There can be age, language, cultural barriers and not everyone owns a cell phone. The
airlines are scrambling for your business now and they surely want you to have a comfortable flight while traveling to Canada during a pandemic.

Unfortunately this woman's travel did not work out well especially if the flight had arrived late. I'm surprised the hotel couldn't accommodate her?
She should have received the VIP room at no extra charge because the pre-paid quarantine bookings are non refundable.

I know one thing for sure, if you're able to get on the plane without presenting the ArriveCan app. and show up here and say " I don't have money. "
That's a sure-fire trip to the ' Gulag. '
I read the original article - it says none of this, doesn't confirm anything, and can't even clarify using precise language whether the woman had a 'reservation' or a pre-paid booking. Yes, it's the hotel's fault.

As for the issues with flights and arrivals, helpful information - but the article has none of that, which is my point.
 
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Western Mountain Man

Hero Member
Nov 2, 2018
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Canada
Travel questions:

1). Any information regarding travelers that have tested positive for covid prior to their flight to Canada due to having received a vaccine?

Travelers that have been vaccinated prior to their flight to Canada.
2). Are they exempt from receiving a covid test upon entry?
3). Are they exempt from staying at the 3-day quarantine hotels?
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,140
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Travel questions:

1). Any information regarding travelers that have tested positive for covid prior to their flight to Canada due to having received a vaccine?

Travelers that have been vaccinated prior to their flight to Canada.
2). Are they exempt from receiving a covid test upon entry?
3). Are they exempt from staying at the 3-day quarantine hotels?
As of right now, no to all these questions