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International travelers at Calgary International Airport say now is the time to lift the Covid-19 border measures and travel restrictions.
“We have a federal government these days that likes to make laws and control people’s lives,” said Allen Chatenay, who was returning from Dallas to Calgary.
“It’s like the rest of the world continues (with COVID-19 restrictions) and Canada is stuck a year ago.
CTV News learned Monday that Ottawa plans to eliminate random testing at airports, eliminate vaccination requirements for incoming travelers and make the controversial ArriveCAN app optional on Sept. 30.
Chatenay said this is a step in the right direction, but mask orders on planes and trains should be removed.
“You go through a very busy airport like Dallas-Fort Worth and then a Canadian plane or an American plane comes to Canada and they say you have to wear the mask. ” he said.
“It’s crazy, and now we’re lost.”
For Al Tallman, he no longer understands Musk’s importance.
“Why would I sit on a plane, fully vaccinated and sit down to hold a mask,” Tallman said.
Travelers like Daniela Carmona understand that restrictions are being lifted, but she urges everyone to be careful.
“I think it’s really important that we all look out for each other,” she said.
Although the regulations are being removed, we work very hard on what happens in our environment.
Stressful app
Brian Smith flew in from Maine last week. ArriveCAN says it makes travel a little more stressful.
“I understand, I understand the need, but it’s painful and it makes this all harder than it already is,” he said.
All non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. immigrants traveling by air to the United States must show proof of full vaccination against Covid-19.
Welcome news
The Calgary Airport Authority welcomes news of the new changes.
“As we work with governments, airlines and airport partners to ensure safe and seamless air travel, we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our guests through our internationally recognized #FlyHealthyYYC program,” said Carmel Hunka, vice president of the Calgary Airport Authority.
“Safe travel is recommended based on science,” Air Canada said in a statement.
“Current science supports relaxing such measures, and we welcome this as it supports Canadian industry’s recovery from COVID,” the statement read.
“Such measures would also be consistent with those taken by many other countries around the world.”
WestJet said it would like to see the measures removed.
“On behalf of our guests and our people, we strongly support the removal of the remaining outdated measures,” said Andy Gibbons, vice president of foreign affairs.
“Air travel continues to be characterized and the current policies are misguided by the current international consensus.”
Gibbons added that he would like to see the mask mandate become ‘optional’ to protect airline workers.
“Canada’s mandatory mask policy needs to change to an alternative to reflect the reality of consumer movements in Canada and around the world,” he said.
“The mandatory mask policy has become increasingly unenforceable.”
Failure to respect the mask
WestJet In 2022 alone, 1,100 mask non-compliances were reported, an increase from the previous year.
Those conditions led to one flight being turned back, nine doors turned back and 74 flights having to open the cabin door after boarding to disembark unruly guests.
Gibbons said that mask disobedience significantly increased unruly behavior and resulted in verbal and physical abuse.
Prime Minister Jason Kenney has been urging the prime minister for months to remove the restrictions, recalling discussions they held last December.
“If it’s not going to disrupt the flow, why do it,” Kenny said.
“He[Prime Minister Justin Trudeau]basically said, ‘Well, Jason, you guys in the provinces get all the regulators, the only regulators we have are related to travel, and we need to be seen doing something.’
The federal government announced on Tuesday that it would not confirm the news from sources for September 30.
Transport Minister Omar Algabra said that no decision has been made regarding the importance of ArriveCAN.
“ArriveCAN is a critical tool for processing travelers according to vaccination mandates,” Algabra said.
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