It could be the fall before consideration is given to removing travel restrictions at the Canada-US border.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam offered that potential end date to a Commons health committee last week.
“I do think that Canada is probably on a good trajectory in terms of its epidemiologically and our own vaccination coverage. I do think that between now and moving towards the fall, we should expect some shift in that policy,” said Dr. Tam.
The border has been closed to non-essential travel since last March. The restrictions have been extended month-by-month since and recently moved to June 21st as the latest deadline.
The Canada Border Service Agency says it’s using a variety of criteria to help identify when the travel restrictions can be lifted.
The Agency’s President John Ossowski told the committee is now reviewing those factors.
“The epidemiological curve, the healthcare capacity, my officer capacity, the processes in terms of what will be under required to be undertaken because obviously we’re asking a lot more questions now of folks as they’re coming in the country, either by air or land, than we were before,” said Ossowski.
Ossowski offered no date to when restrictions could be lifted.
Conservative MP John Barlow says Canadians are looking to a definite end.
“Canadians need hope we don’t need any more cute one shot summer hashtags we need hope,” said Barlow.
