Why millions of travellers have entered Canada despite COVID-19 travel restrictions

Since Canada imposed COVID-19 travel restrictions in late March, more than four million people have entered the country. That number includesrepeat entries by the same person.

While the total ismuch smaller than normal,sightings ofU.S. licence plates or international flights landing have still beensparking concernsthat foreigners have found ways to sneak in.

In Alberta home of tourist hotspot, Banff RCMP reported that between June 17 and August 25, officersreceived 243 complaints of U.S.-plated carsin the province.

A small number of fines have been doled out to Americans skirting Canada'stravel rules. However,the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) points out that there are many legitimate reasons why Americans may have entered the country.

"It should be noted that simply seeing a U.S.-plated vehicle or boat is not a reason to suspect someone of suspicious cross-border activity," said CBSA spokesperson Mark Stuart in an email.

Here's why, despite Canada's travel restrictions, the country is still open to some visitors.

Who's entering Canada?

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, Canada only allows foreigners to enterfor non-discretionary purposes. Those given a pass include qualifying international students and workers in industries deemed essential such as health, food services and transport.

In June, the federal government relaxed its rules to allow foreigners to visit immediate family in Canada.

Meanwhile, Canadian citizens, dual citizens andpermanent residents, can still freely leaveand re-enterthe country. They must self-isolate for 14 daysupon their return.

According to the CBSA, which tracks numbers on a weekly basis, just over 4.4 million Canadians and foreigners have entered Canada by land or air since March 23.

The numbers are a drop in the bucket compared to pre-pandemic travel.

For example, during the last week of August, 185,866 travellers entered Canada by land a decline of 88 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

Another 65,285 air passengers landed in Canada that week a drop of almost 93 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Are Canada's restrictions toughenough?

Since Canada's travel restrictions took effect, the CBSAhasturned away thousands of foreigners.

The agency reports that between March 22 and Sept. 2, it denied entry to more than 18,000 peopletrying to cross from the U.S. by land or air,because they wanted to visit for non-essential reasons such as shopping orsightseeing.

The CBSA said Canada must keep its doors open to some foreigners so Canadians still have access to essential goods and services.

The majority of people currently entering by land are truck drivers who are deemed essential workers.

"The CBSA is committed to maintaining cross-border supply chains, supporting Canadian importers and exporters and ensuring the free flow of goods and services across our international borders," said the CBSA's Stuart.

Kelley Lee, a professor of public health at Simon Fraser University, said it's debatable whether all types of travel Canada has defined as "essential" belong in the category.

She cites as an example Canada allowing Americans to drive through the country to Alaska for work or to return home. The rule has angeredCanadians who fear it has become a loopholefor Americans wanting to enter Canada for a vacation.

"People say, 'Well, actually, people driving to Alaska, why are they allowed to do that, is that essential?' And so there's a kind of debate there," said Lee, who also studies global health governance.

To further complicate matters, some Americans have flouted CBSA's rules which state that when driving to Alaska, they can't make unnecessary stops along the way.

According to Alberta RCMP, officers issued nine fines of $1,200 each to U.S. residents purportedly driving to or from Alaska,who stopped to see the sights in Banff National Park.

One of the offenders allegedly defied the rules again the very next day on June 26 and was consequently charged for breaching Canada's Quarantine Act. John Pennington of Kentucky is set to appear in courtin Canmore, Alberta on Nov. 26.

In late July, the CBSA beefed up its rules for Alaska-bound Americans by forcing them to display a hang-tag in their car, indicating the purpose of their trip. They also must check in with border officials before departing Canada.

Lee said another concern is that Canadians can stillvacationabroad.

Global Affairs Canada currentlyadvises against non-essentialinternational travel,but saysit's up to Canadians to decide if their trip is essential.

"People are traveling on holiday abroad and coming back again, so that does worry me," said Lee. "No travel is risk-free. We are risking infection every time."

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the percentage of COVID-19 cases associated with international travel hasdeclined dramatically since March, when the country implemented its travel restrictions and advisedCanadians to not travel abroad.

In February, 42.2 per cent of COVID-19 cases were associated with international travel. That number dropped to a low of 0.4 per cent in May, andhas since inched up to 3.2 per cent for the first three weeks of August.

What happens next?

Lee is currently heading up an international study, in collaboration with the World Health Organization,exploring the effectiveness of travel restrictions and other cross-border measures during a pandemic.

She said that countries need to not only monitor who is entering, but also, what travellers do next.

"What happens to people when they come past the border? Are we doing enough to ensure that they are following the rules?"

WATCH | Dr. Theresa Tam talks about testing international arrivals

Tam on testing international arrivals

4 years ago

Duration 1:18

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam answers if testing arrivals at international airports could eventually replace the 14-day quarantine period.

Canada requires all international arrivals to quarantine for 14 days, butat least a handful of peoplehave been caught defying the order and fined up to $1,000.

Last week, Canada's chief public health officer,Dr. Theresa Tam, said the federal government is exploring whether it's practical to test people for COVID-19 when entering Canada, in place of the quarantine requirement.