Background
Vaccine mandate suspended
Random testing suspended
Comment
Since 20 June 2022, Canadian and international travellers have no longer needed to be fully vaccinated against covid-19 to board a plane or train in Canada for domestic and international travel.
Since 30 October 2021, all travellers (ages 12 and above) departing from Canadian airports, train stations and on cruise ships were required to be fully vaccinated in order to travel.
The government noted that the mandatory vaccination requirement helped mitigate the full impact of covid-19. The latest announcement to suspend this requirement is part of Canada's effort to ease border restrictions and is expected to help reduce wait times at airports.
Unvaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents can now board planes and trains both domestically and internationally. Foreign nationals entering Canada must continue to be fully vaccinated (subject to limited exceptions). However, unvaccinated foreign nationals may now depart the country.
All travellers must continue to follow the current testing and quarantine requirements upon re-entry to Canada, including using the ArriveCAN mobile app or desktop version to submit their travel and covid-19-related information within 72 hours of their arrival.
The government also suspended randomised testing at Canadian airports between 11 June 2022 and 30 June 2022, which did not apply to unvaccinated travellers. However, testing was reinstated on 1 July 2022 and is performed off site for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.
Eliminating randomised testing at airports significantly reduces wait times.
In light of these changes, employers should advise unvaccinated employees that they can now board a flight or train in Canada, and for those who are not currently in the country, employers should provide them with up-to-date entry instructions to ensure they continue to meet covid-19 requirements before arriving in Canada.
For further information on this topic please contact Graeme Black or Amira Zubairi at KPMG Law by telephone (+1 416 777 8000) or email ([email protected] or [email protected]). The KPMG Law website can be accessed at www.kpmg.com.