Canada opening their border to vaccinated travelers... sorta

[cabmandone]

I was talking with my brother today. He has a trip to Canada planned as soon as the border is officially open. He was telling me about the hoops he has to jump through and I thought it was interesting.

So... first, obviously, you need to show proof of vaccination. Then... you need to have a PCR test no more than 72 hours before entry. Then, if he has this right, you get a quick test upon entry, which if you fail gets you booted. This doesn't sound "open to vaccinated travelers" to me. I get the PCR test no more than 72 hours old prior to entry. The quick test seems like a crapshoot. I can see how his trip plans could end up sideways due to a false positive. There's also an online portal for submitting the necessary documents. He was also saying he's going to carry his papers with him because if he's caught by the DNR without proof of vaccination he can be fined. That seems odd if true since he had to prove vaccination status in order to enter the country.

[matthewb0051]

I heard they were requiring a PAP smear as well

[cabmandone]

If what my brother is telling me is correct, they might as well! And a clean colonoscopy as well.

[oldE]

One couple has already run afoul by falsifying vaccination documents.
$20k. Of course those are Canadian dollars so it might not mean that much to some.

Stay safe.
Best
Les

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by oldE

One couple has already run afoul by falsifying vaccination documents.
$20k. Of course those are Canadian dollars so it might not mean that much to some.

Stay safe.
Best
Les

Interesting. My brother can't even start downloading documents until tomorrow. Since the border doesn't open officially until the 9th and there's the requirement for a PCR test no more than 72 hours, the website isn't allowing him to even start adding documents.

[Brian 162]

You might want to let your brother know the Canadian border guards may go on strike or work to rule on Friday

[1990C4S]

The instant test has been in place for months. I'm not sure how it's a 'crap-shoot', false positives are not very common, and he can return the following day if it happens. If he wants to avoid the hassle he can fly and rent a car, or have his car shipped.

It's not unreasonable to err on the side of caution when people are coming from a country with significantly higher infection rates.

The US border is still closed to Canadians driving across...

[911 Rod]

Maybe he will get the hint.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

You might want to let your brother know the Canadian border guards may go on strike or work to rule on Friday

Never mind. A deal was reached tonight (6th).

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

The instant test has been in place for months. I'm not sure how it's a 'crap-shoot', false positives are not very common, and he can return the following day if it happens. If he wants to avoid the hassle he can fly and rent a car, or have his car shipped.

It's not unreasonable to err on the side of caution when people are coming from a country with significantly higher infection rates.

The US border is still closed to Canadians driving across...

But what's the point in getting the PCR? Why waste the time and money when they're gonna check you at the border prior to entry? I can understand one or the other but both?

[Esel Mann]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

The US border is still closed to Canadians driving across...

Correct. Unfortunately the COVID pandemic has been hogging the headlines. However we also have another serious pandemic down here that isn't getting any attention. Specifically the exponential rise in *coughe* *stout* hirsute weemens thinking its totally ok to wear unlaundered lululemon cameltoe yogi stretchy pants. We're at capacity down here with this, clorox is way behind with eye bleach production and switching out the unlaundered lululemon cameltoe yogi stretchy pants for even freshly laundered camo-snowmobile suit wearing border crossers isn't going to change the root of the problem.

[creaturecat]

a one way border. too weird.

[island911]

Why does Canada hate South Americans so much? So racist, eh?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

a one way border. too weird.

I agree. I had to look to see if he was correct. I didn't know we had the border closed to non essential travel. Why were members of congress so PO'd about Canada possibly keeping the border closed to tourist travel when we have ours closed to them? Makes no sense!

[BoxsterSteve]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I heard they were requiring a PAP smear as well

That’s right.
We’re not f#%king around.

[oldE]

You want 'makes no sense '? Reported by CBC this week, an employee of a bottling company in Ontario was directed by his employer to visit another of their facilities in the USA. He had been double vaccinated and carried a letter from his employer explaining why he was traveling. He was stopped at the border, questioned and refused entry as border guards deemed his travel to be non-essential.
Returning to the Canadian crossing point fifteen minutes later, he was told he would have to quarantine for 14 days or face charges and fines as they were of the opinion he had left the country.
So he is off work for two weeks.

Best
Les

[cabmandone]

^^^ Wow! Now THAT is some kind of mindless nonsense. We should all be so proud of our governments for their ability to think clearly and use common sense.

[pmax]

Is Canada lost ?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by cabmando

But what's the point in getting the PCR? Why waste the time and money when they're gonna check you at the border prior to entry? I can understand one or the other but both?

Because an instant test is not reliable ON ITS OWN. And because you can get COVID after your PCR test. If the instant test was as reliable as the PCR test your argument would be valid.

How can rational people question border checks given the COVID numbers in the US right now? Canada has numbers that are probably 10% of the US, and they can't cross.

[matthewb0051]

Interesting that Canada just allowed a bunch of tennis professionals to enter the country to play in the Rogers Cup in Toronto and Montreal.

Also interesting that a few thousand athletes and coaches were in Tokyo the last two weeks but spectators were not allowed.

Just a thought: if the Rona is sooooooo dangerous then why are athletic events and the associated travel still occurring???? Bubble shumbble. A few athletes test positive at or prior to almost every event.