Coming Home from the USA to Work in Canada
I regularly receive calls from members who are having difficulty transiting the Canada-US border with their crews – either returning from training or from working in the USA, on Leave. Ironically, it is the Canadian CBSA that are slowing the movement of workers coming home, or insisting on a 14-day quarantine (or three days in a government approved hotel and two covid tests etc etc) when a worker returns. It is clear to HAC that there are inconsistent interpretations being applied by CBSA for workers returning to Canada. To make matters worse, HAC and others have been asking TC to provide some recognition for passengers and crew members that have received two vaccine shots. Recently an airline full of Israeli citizens arriving in Canada – all, fully vaccinated – were subjected to the “three days in a government-approved hotel and the full-suite of COVID testing”. TC and PHAC are both under some significant pressure – from all segments of the industry – but particularly from the airlines, that want to relieve their customers from the cost and inconvenience of unnecessary tests and quarantine requirements that are still in place. As more Americans and many Canadians receive one, and sometimes two vaccines – and the medical science supports the protection that full-vaccinated people realize – the pressure will continue to mount.