Quebec's new travel restrictions cause friction across Ottawa River

Some people on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River are questioning the Quebec government's decision to try to stop the spread of COVID-19 by restricting cross-border travel.

Municipal and provincialpolice set up checkpoints on some bridges and roads leading into Quebec on Wednesday, part of new rules against non-essential trips in the Outaouais.

Only those on their way to work, to a medical appointmentor with "humanitarian reasons" would be allowed, Gatineau, Que.,police said in a news release.

Anyone who doesn't turn around could be fined.

• Quebec.ca: Travel restrictions between regions

Poya Saffari lives in Ottawa, but his parentsin their 70s live separately in Hull and Chelsea, Que..

Saffari has been bringing them groceries while they self-isolate to protect themselves andsaid he's not sure if he will be allowed into Quebec under the new regulations.

"I'm very concerned aboutmy ability to be able to continue to provide them that support andremain connected," he said.

While someone like Saffari may qualify under the humanitarian category, it's unclear what criteria will be used to determine who can pass and who can't.

Gatineau police said officers would assess who can cross into the province on a case-by-case basis.

"There's a lot of this that's unclear right now," said Saffari.

"If you're going to come out with these kinds of fairly dramatic restrictions on movement, you have to be clear as to exactly who is allowed to cross this bridge and who isn't."

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Cst. Andre East, spokesperson for Gatineau police, say officers may stop drivers and ask their reasons for travelling. Only necessary travel, such as for medical reasons or for work deemed essential, will be permitted.

'Brings so much grief'

Christine Guillebaud's family is also caught on both sides of the divide.

Guillebaud runs a daycare in Ottawa that's still open because some of her clients are doctors.

Her husband and two childrenarestaying at a cottage near Mont-Tremblant, Que.,while her daughter self-isolates after returning from travel.

Guillebauddoesn't know if she'llbe able to visit them this weekendto bring supplies and food.

• Gatineau police set up checkpoints to limit interprovincial traffic
• Quebec restricting travel to 'vulnerable regions' as it works to contain COVID-19

"I understand the need to limit the spread of the virus," said Guillebaud. "

[But] closing one direction on the bridges to all except non-essential services is cruel and brings so much grief to so many people in this area who have families on both sides."

Coun. Mathieu Fleury represents the Ottawa ward of Rideau-Vanier, where the Alexandra and Macdonald-Cartier bridges carried thousands of vehicles every day before the pandemic.

"We recognize the proximity to Gatineau and how residents can live and work on on different sides," he said.

"These measures simply add stress to add to their commute, which in this time of stress is simply not helpful."

Fleury said many people are already avoiding non-essential travel on the advice of public health officials and questioned whether the controls would achieve their desired effect.

Strong message

Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin said the province needs strong measures to ensure the coronavirus outbreak doesn't get out of control, as it has in some places in Europe.

"It's time to have to send strongly the message that non-essential travel should be avoided," hesaid in an interview on CBC Radio's All In A Day.

"Unfortunately the way to be a good neighbour these days is not to visit."

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Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin says police will be out asking travellers for their reasons for moving between Ontario and Quebec in an effort to restrict non-essential travel and limit the spread of COVID-19.

The new restrictions are part of a broader provincial plan that started last weekend and bannedall non-essential travel into eight regions of Quebec .

PremierFranois Legault said Wednesday at his daily news conference the new rules are also because people were comingfrom northern regions to shop further south.

Quebec has the most cases of COVID-19 of any province in the country, with over 4,600 as of Thursday morning.

It counts confirmed and suspected cases, while other provinces don't count the suspected ones.