OTTAWA – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is announcing that as of July 31, 2020, at 12:01 am PDT stricter rules and additional entry conditions will be imposed on travellers transiting through Canada to Alaska for a non-discretionary purpose. These measures are put in place to further reduce the risk of introduction of COVID-19 cases and to minimize the amount of time that in-transit travellers are in Canada.
There have been a number of cases reported in British Columbia and Alberta of Americans stopping for extended stays in those provinces. There have, in Ontario been a number of Americans charged with violation of quarantine rules.
Canada remains committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. For public health reasons, the temporary restriction on all optional or discretionary travel at the Canada-United States (U.S.) border remains in place.
More specifically, in-transit foreign nationals:
· must enter Canada at one of the five identified CBSA ports of entry (POE)
1. Abbotsford-Huntingdon (British Columbia)
2. Coutts (Alberta)
3. Kingsgate (British Columbia)
4. North Portal (Saskatchewan)
5. Osoyoos (British Columbia)
· will be allowed a reasonable period of stay to carry out the transit
· will be limited to travel within Canada using the most direct route from the POE to the intended POE of exit, while avoiding all national parks, leisure sites and tourism activities
· will be required, before entering the U.S., to report to the nearest CBSA POE to confirm their exit from Canada
In-transit travellers will be issued a vehicle “hang tag” to be attached to their rearview mirror for the duration of their trip to or from Alaska to support compliance while they are in Canada. The front of the tag will make it clear that the travellers are transiting and include the date they must depart Canada. The back of the tag will remind travellers to comply with all conditions imposed upon entry and the Quarantine and Emergencies Acts and a list of public health and safety measures to follow.
These measures also apply to foreign nationals transiting to the U.S. through Canada from Alaska. However, entry into Canada from Alaska on the northern border is not limited to designated POEs. Additional measures might be imposed at the time of entry by a border services officer (BSO).
Upon arrival at one of the designated POE, in-transit travellers must satisfy a BSO that they meet the requirements for entry into Canada. Travellers are encouraged to have documentation that will demonstrate their purpose of travel. The final decision is made by a BSO, based on the information available to them at the time of entry.
Following admission into Canada, in-transit travellers are provided with a Public Health Agency of Canada handout. The document clearly states that travellers should:
· avoid contact with others while in transit
· remain in the vehicle as much as possible
· not make any unnecessary stops
· practice physical distancing at all times
· pay at the pump if they need gas
· use a drive through if they need food
· wear a suitable mask or face covering while in transit
· ensure good hygiene practices if they need to use a rest area
In-transit travellers are encouraged to use only those services that are open to travellers along the direct route on which they are travelling.
Travellers who arrive at a non-identified POE for the purpose of transiting to Alaska will be denied entry and advised to go to one of the five identified POEs.
No matter the reason for travel, all foreign nationals who have COVID-19 or exhibit any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada.
Providing false information to a BSO may lead to consequences such as being denied entry and/or banned from returning to Canada.
Quick facts
· The Canada-U.S. temporary border restriction put in place on March 21 at 12:01 am EDT continues. All discretionary/optional travel remains prohibited.
· Foreign nationals are only admitted to Canada in circumstances where the traveller is considered to be transiting through to Alaska for anon-discretionary purpose such as work or going to primary residence.
· As of March 31, 2020, travellers arriving in Canada must provide their contact information to a border services officer (either by paper, online, via the ArriveCAN app or verbally to the officer) when seeking entry. This information is collected on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to support their compliance and enforcement of the 14-day quarantine or isolation requirement outlined in Order in Council 2020-0524.
· The CBSA collects contact information on behalf of PHAC who, along with provincial/territorial health authorities, monitor and track individuals from a public health perspective.
· Failure to comply with the current border restrictions is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to $750,000 in fines, and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months. If a traveller causes a risk of imminent death or serious bodily harm to another person while willfully or recklessly contravening this act or the regulations, they could be liable for up to $1,000,000 in fines, and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years.
· For the latest on cross-border programs and services, travellers can call the CBSA’s Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999.
Associated links
· COVID-19: Current border measures and requirements–Information for non-Canadians
· For travellers without symptoms of COVID-19 returning to Canada
