Government Relations Report Ron Steeves First Vice-President As the COVID-19 pandemic and the government response evolves, we anticipate additional changes to cross-border travel measures in both Canada and the United States over the summer months. Since my last report, the U.S. government has suspended the requirement for air travellers to obtain a pre-departure COVID-19 test within a day of their departure flights effective June 12, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will reassess this decision in 90 days and, like all COVID-19 measures, it remains subject to change. Please note that a pre-departure COVID-19 test is not currently a requirement for land travellers entering the United States by vehicle. While the Biden administration has removed the requirement for a pre-departure test for entry into the United States, it is still important to keep in mind that no changes have been made to the U.S. government’s requirement for all visitors 18 years of age and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. At the time of printing, the CDC has not altered their definition of “fully vaccinated.” Travellers are considered fully vaccinated two weeks (14 days) after their second dose of an accepted two-dose series. More detailed information about this requirement, including exemptions, can be obtained at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html. In Canada, in an effort to reduce traveller wait times at Canada’s major airports, the federal government temporarily suspended randomized arrival testing for fully vaccinated Canadian travellers from June 11 to June 30. As of July 1, all testing, including for unvaccinated travellers, will be performed off site. Additionally, the Canadian government has also suspended the requirement that domestic and outbound travellers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 effective June 20, 2022. This means that vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer required to board a plane or train in Canada. Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents returning from international destinations who do not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption continue to be required to provide a valid pre-entry test result, remain subject to Day 1 and Day 8 molecular testing, and must quarantine for 14 days. Further, all travellers entering Canada are required to input their mandatory information in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before their arrival in Canada. Travellers who arrive without completing their ArriveCAN submission may be subject to Day 1 and Day 8 molecular testing, quarantine for 14 days and fines or other enforcement actions, regardless of their vaccination status. Members are advised to visit travel.gc.ca/ travel-covid prior to any return to Canada for the most up-to-date information related to re-entry requirements. The CSA continues to advocate on behalf of our members on a wide range of issues, including passport and NEXUS program enrolment backlogs and congestion at Canada’s airports. We have all seen the images of the extensive lines outside of passport offices across the country. The federal government recently launched a tool that allows passport seekers to view walk-in wait times at Passport Canada offices which can be accessed at www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/map/map. asp. As we experience a surge in passport applications due to pent-up travel demand, the association is calling on the federal government to address the backlog in passport applications through the streamlining of processes and increased hiring. Members are urged to review the expiry date on their passport and renew, if necessary, as soon as possible. Anyone travelling in more than 45 days, or who doesn’t have a specific travel date, can receive in-person service at a Service Canada centre. Alternatively, no proof of travel is required for mail-in applications. With more than 300,000 Canadians waiting for NEXUS approval, we are committed to working with the federal government to address this backlog in a timely manner. While U.S. enrolment centres have been reopened since mid-April of this year, Canada’s enrolment centres have remained closed since March of 2020. The continued closure of Canada’s enrolment centres is forcing NEXUS members to book in-person interviews in the United States where there are limited appointments available. The CSA is calling on the federal government to effectively address this backlog and open Canadian NEXUS enrolment centres immediately. Tackling the NEXUS backlog will, in part, alleviate some of the congestion which we have been witnessing at Canadian airports by expediting the travel process for trusted travellers who have been vetted under the program. The association will continue to provide members with our timely email advisories over the summer months to notify you when there are changes to cross-border travel measures both in Canada and the United States. Judy and I wish you a safe and enjoyable summer. CSANews | SUMMER 2022 | 11
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