'It's time': Vancouver travellers welcome expected changes to rules at borders, airports
The Canadian government plans to drop the COVID-19 vaccination requirement at the border, CTV News has learned, and some travellers passing through Vancouver International Airport say the move is long overdue.
The change will also stop random testing and make completing an ArriveCan form optional.
“Yeah, I think it’s time. People are kind of adjusted going back to normal,” a traveller flying out of YVR Tuesday told CTV News Vancouver.
“You know, you need to eventually return to normal,” said another traveller.
Those in the province’s tourism industry say the changes could mark a significant step in its long road to recovery.
“If in fact it’s the case, it’s welcome news,” said Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Association of BC. “It is something we’ve been calling for, for several months.”
Judas says the ArriveCan app became a major hurdle for the industry.
“ArriveCan was one of the barriers for international visitation,” he said.
One traveller said she intends to travel more often once the ArriveCan app is no longer mandatory.
“I’m kind of thrilled because I want to do quick little day trips through the U.S. and the ArriveCan is just, I don’t want to bother,” she told CTV News Vancouver.
Federal officials remained tight lipped on specifics Tuesday, but hinted at the positive results of lifting restrictions.
“I’m interested in making sure that the border is as unsticky as possible,” said Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault. “I want to see the free flow of goods so we can boost the tourism sector, get them back to work and doing what they need to do. That said, I’ve said since I became tourism minister, safety first.”
The federal government rolled back restrictions in June, allowing unvaccinated Canadians to board planes and trains for domestic and international travel.
It’s unclear what exactly the latest changes will be, but it’s expected an announcement will be made in the days ahead.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.