FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Jul 24

To Mandate COVID Vaccinations or Not?

by bcurry

When COVID vaccinations really took off in the spring, people began to sense that they could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and a return to so-called normalcy.  However, despite large numbers of Americans, Canadians and Europeans having become fully vaccinated or at least having one dose, the sudden emergence of the Delta Variant is once again starting to dim that light.  In the U.S., COVID-19 hospitalizations are trending upward in 45 states.  While levels remain well below previous peaks, health care centers in parts of the Midwest, West and South are strained.  For example, some Florida hospitals have more COVID patients than ever before.  In Europe, the Delta Variant is now the predominant strain and appears to be spreading rapidly, especially among the unvaccinated.  In France, 22,000 coronavirus cases were reported in a 24-hour period this past week, the highest rate in more than two months.

The result has been that a number of governments reintroduced masking and physical distancing requirements, especially for indoor public activities.  What is more interesting is that several governments, like that of France, have introduced mandatory vaccination for health workers and are telling the rest of the population — if not vaccinated or without testing negative — will be denied access to most indoor public spaces.  In the U.S., more than 400 colleges and universities are required to vaccinate students for COVID-19.  As well, based on recent favourable court decisions, the U.S. government provided guidance that companies can require workers entering the workplace to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or to be tested.  America’s business leaders, who had hoped the country would already be fully on a path to normalcy, are caught in a conundrum of requiring employees to be fully vaccinated in order to return to their workplaces or allowing them to continue to work from home.  Given the apparent emergence of another wave, employers have to ask whether workers will feel comfortable enough to come back, even if good controls are in place?  Less than half of Americans are fully vaccinated, exacerbating the situation in their workplaces.

To date, studies have shown that vaccines remain effective against the worst outcomes of COVID-19, including those from the Delta Variant.  Whether or not they are a hundred percent effective is not the point.  When determining vaccination requirements, people are using the “precautionary principle”, which claims that certain health and safety actions are justified even though one may not have all the evidence readily at hand.  One just needs to know that the potential benefits of taking an initiative outweigh the apparent risks, especially when it comes to public safety.  The courts have determined that reasonable practices will supersede the impact on individual liberties, especially where the good of the community or employees are at risk.

During this global pandemic, governments have closed borders, placed restrictions on travel, imposed testing and quarantine requirements for travellers, obligated masking and physical distancing requirements, etc., etc.  Now that we have relatively effective vaccines that can help prevent further COVID outbreaks, the question of mandatory vaccinations will continue to surface in many countries and communities.  It will no doubt stir up pockets of deep resistance among some elements of the population believing that such policies are an infringement of individual liberties.  The debate has already surfaced with respect to the idea of having vaccination passports in order to travel or enter certain types of public spaces such as gyms, restaurants, bars and sporting/entertainment events.  There are growing divisions over how far it may become mandatory to receive an injection.  As in Europe, the debate will continue in both the U.S. and Canada, sometimes placing local authorities in opposition to the policies of state and provincial governments.  Who ultimately wins this debate will most likely depend largely on political beliefs and whether the current surge in the Delta Variant can be adequately controlled. In the meantime, health care systems and front-line workers will unfortunately continue to be strained!

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Jul 12

Mandatory COVID Vaccinations vs. Civil Liberties in North America

by bcurry

With the post-secondary school year not that far off, several colleges in Canada and in the U.S. have announced mandatory COVID vaccination policies for students, especially for those wanting to live in residence.  There reportedly are now well over 500 colleges and universities in the U.S. which are requiring vaccinations to come on campus in the fall, including the entire New York and California public systems.  Although these currently represent only about 10 percent of American colleges and universities, the numbers apparently continue to grow.  Here in Canada, with some exceptions, mandatory vaccination requirements for students have been slow to emerge.  For example, University of Toronto students living in dorms this fall will be required to be vaccinated.  Those moving into residence at Western University will be required to receive at least a first dose.  However, most Canadian colleges and universities only tend to strongly encourage all community members to get vaccinated as soon as they become eligible.

Cara Zwibel, director of the fundamental freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, views that such mandatory vaccination policies undermine the idea that vaccination is a choice.  Yet, Ontario schools require children and teens to be immunized against designated childhood diseases, unless they have a valid exemption.  Indeed, when it comes to introducing vaccination and medical mask requirements in workplaces, the province of Quebec leads the way in Canada.  A passport-based approach, which is still rare in Canada, will take effect this September in Quebec which will allow only fully vaccinated people to access non-essential places such as bars and gyms.  Last April, Quebec’s workplace health and safety board required that medical masks be worn at all times indoors in workplaces.  As well, additional restrictions have been placed on visitors to long-term senior residences for persons who are not fully vaccinated.  Most long-term care employers are now requiring employees to be fully vaccinated with few exceptions.  Otherwise, the non-vaccinated employees will face continuous COVID testing protocols and additional personal protective equipment requirements.

Mandatory COVID vaccination and masking requirements will continue to raise the eyebrows of civil liberties groups, arguing that vaccination and masking should be a choice.  However, health and safety specialists will counter by arguing that, by the very nature of the coronavirus and how it quickly spreads, there are situations where congregate living situations (residences) and shared common spaces make it challenging to isolate or quarantine should someone become infected.  From various surveys, it would appear that otherwise healthy young people taking a more vaccine-hesitant stance is not about an infringement on their civil liberties, but more about complacency.  As a society, we place all kinds of requirements on our citizens to protect the overall health and safety of our communities, especially in workplaces.  Under certain circumstances, it would appear that mandatory COVID vaccination requirements to safeguard oneself and others from the spread of this dangerous virus make sense.  The continuing reluctance of the majority of institutions to not introduce these requirements and to take a wait and see approach is inviting future outbreaks and possible lockdowns in both countries.

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Jul 3

War on COVID has presented today’s youth with opportunities to demonstrate strengths

by bcurry

With all of the negative news surrounding COVID-19, there is also a fair amount of positive news that one can take away from the last year and a half.  Much of it has to do with the actions of today’s younger generations, be it the Millennials or Generations Y and Z.  Youth in past generations had to overcome the consequences of global depression and the horrific impacts of fighting in two world wars.  Today’s generations have been placed in a similar position.

Today, the battles such as those against a global pandemic are just as challenging.  Nevertheless, younger people have emerged to take leadership in tackling this disease in scientific, health care and front line services.  Take their evident participation in contributing the scientific research surrounding the incredible development of mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer.  The speedy delivery of COVID vaccines is anything but miraculous.  College, secondary and primary students have had to adjust to a relatively new teaching environment involving the use of innovative technologies, including those involving on-line learning and virtual communication.  No easy task!  Young people and their families have been asked to pay a heavy price, but for the most part they have shown great resilience and commitment.

On a personal note, I was greatly impressed by the participation of many young health care practitioners and volunteers at a local community COVID vaccination clinic.  Working around the clock and having to continuously wear personal protective equipment, these young people helped to provide an efficient, speedy and convenient service to the community, all the while doing so in a polite and caring manner.  Then there are those thousands working in hospitals who have had to deal with the tragic loss of life due to COVID, often where patients have been completely isolated from their families and friends.  We owe these courageous people a whole lot of thanks and appreciation.

At the above vaccination clinic, I also noticed a good many young people who had agreed to be vaccinated against this terrible disease.  There has been a lot of talk about the hesitancy factor as it pertains to younger people.  However, from what I’ve seen so far, the majority of young Canadians have stepped forward to aid in the fight against this disease, and in particular to prevent the further spread of the so-called Delta variant.  Given relevant and reliable information, I am certain that today’s youth will continue to play their important role in bringing an end to the pandemic in their communities, and in the country at large.  Rather than dwelling on the negative commentary on social media and elsewhere, we should be expressing our appreciation for their positive contributions to combating COVID.  To the younger generations, I send out a big ‘thank you’ for the critical roles that you are playing.

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Jun 21

Cities Will Definitely Not Be the Same After the Pandemic Is Over

by bcurry

A recent New York Times headline read: “New York Faces Lasting Economic Toll Even as Pandemic Passes.”  This should come as no big surprise given the nature of New York city’s industrial make-up, a good deal of which depends on foreign and domestic tourism.  Indeed, the article notes that the city had an 11.8 percent decline in jobs from February 2020 to April 2021, almost three times the loss on the national level.  Boarded-up storefronts and for-lease signs dot many of its neighborhoods.  Many of the businesses that depend on office and other workers who work in the core have yet to experience any substantive turnaround, especially in the retail, hospitality and performing arts sectors.  Of concern to the services sector is that several large corporations like Google and Facebook, as major commercial tenants, will not require the same amount of office space with a good percent of their staff continuing to work remotely full time or two or three days a week.  With fewer people commuting daily to downtown businesses, there will also be a substantive need to examine current public transportation policies.

While the example of New York is certainly considered to be an extreme situation, there is little doubt that all urban centers in North America will have to adjust economically and socially in the near future.  The impact of the pandemic will leave a substantial mark on every aspect of urban life for sometime to come.  The most evident immediate impact can be seen in the housing market.  Working remotely from home is only one of several factors influencing the rising costs of housing, especially single detached homes.  The average sale price for a home in Canada for example has surged 38 percent to $688,208 over the past year amid a pandemic-driven housing boom, according to data from the Canadian Real Estate Association.  Technology has allowed more people to work from ‘rurban’ communities than ever before, eliminating much of the need to commute to and from urban workplaces.  Employers are having to adjust their working arrangements to accommodate employees, who in many cases have essential skills in short supply.

Even Ottawa, where I live, is experiencing many of the economic and social consequences of the pandemic, despite being primarily a government town and having less of an economic impact that most cities.  However, as in the case of New York, Ottawa has seen dozens of small businesses, which before the pandemic employed about much of the city’s work force, haven’t survived.  Tourism, a major part of the National Capital Region, is way down, affecting hotels, tour operations, restaurants and bars.  The closure of the American border over the past year to non-essential traffic and major restrictions on international air travel has had a major impact on tourism.  Sports and entertainment venues, including Ottawa’s large festival industry, have been non-existent since the beginning of the pandemic.  Like many urban communities, the city is counting on the vaccination of seventy or more percent of its population to eventually encourage locals to return to recreational and indoor activities across the region.  However, much like projections for New York, most observers predict that it’s going to be a long, slow recovery.  Indeed, one can further predict that the eventual outcome will be quite different from pre-pandemic conditions in North American cities.

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Jun 16

Confirmed COVID Cases in U.S. and Canada Mean that the Pandemic is NOT OVER

by bcurry

The headlines today read: “U.S. Nears 600,000 Virus Deaths Despite Progress From Vaccines.”  As several states, including California and New York state, are in the process of reopening, experts are warning the Americans still have a ways to go to get COVID-19 fully under control.  Data shows that about 362 people across the U.S. are still dying from the coronavirus each day.  What’s worrisome is that about half of coronavirus deaths at the end of May were made up of people ages 50 to 74, compared with a third of the total deaths in December.  Many of those hospitalized are younger than in the past, some of whom had not been vaccinated.  Vaccine hesitancy is still a lingering problem.  Nevertheless, about 44 percent of the U.S. population — about 145 million people — is fully vaccinated.  Fortunately, widely available vaccines have played the central role in slowing the death rate.  However, vaccines without continuing precautions such as masking and physical distancing may not be sufficient enough to finally control coronavirus outbreaks.  Only time will tell.  I’m not hopeful.

As of June 15, 2021, the U.S. had had a total of over 33 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, a relatively high number when compared to global numbers.  As of June 16, 2021, there have been 176,156,662 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the world, including 3,815,486 deaths, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).  On June 15th, there were about 11,180 confirmed daily cases in U.S.   Compare that to 7,600 cases in U.K., 1390 in Italy, 407 in France, 650 in Germany, 1175 in Mexico and 806 cases in Canada.

Everyone recognizes that so-called COVID fatigue is a real thing and that certain sectors of the economy have suffered more during the pandemic, especially in light of necessary lockdown measures.  One can feel the tension in the air and people’s desire to return to some form of normalcy.  Yet new more deadly variants continue to emerge, including the so-called Delta variant which is now being transmitted in North America.  One has to remember that the sole objective of a virus is to replicate.  The more unvaccinated and vulnerable persons available to infect, the virus will continue to mutate.  Most experts believe the sooner that we get more people, including children, fully vaccinated, the better are our chances to limit the further spread of variants.  This is a simple scientific fact that people have to come to recognize.  Forget nonsensical conspiracy theories and abundant misinformation about being vaccinated. 

The fact of the matter is that there is now little chance that Americans and Canadians will ever achieve so-called “herd immunity”.  Simply put, any herd-immunity threshold is looking unlikely because of factors such as vaccine hesitancy, the challenge of the unevenness of vaccine roll-outs, the emergence of new variants and the delayed arrival of vaccinations for children.  COVID will be with us in one form or another for some time, just like seasonal flue strains.  It may very well be that in order to have immunity, many of us, especially the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, will have no choice but to have COVID-type vaccines in the future.  Remember that we are fortunately living in North America with all our health care and pharmaceutical capabilities, unlike what one finds in Third World countries.  Failing to deal quickly with this health issue in the global context will have grave consequences for all of us.  After all, no one wants to be just another statistic!

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May 15

To Mask or Not to Mask? That is the Question.

by bcurry

This past week, Director Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CSC) announced the CDC ‘s recommendation that anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor or outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing.  Subsequently, President Biden reiterated the CDC’s recommendation in a press conference, suggesting that if Americans wanted to get rid of their masks, they should get vaccinated.  However, as in everything about COVID-19, there is again confusion as to what this actually means.  As it pertains to states and municipalities, there are those that had already lifted masking restrictions and those that indicated they will continue the restrictions for the time being.  Labour groups and others warned that employees at stores, restaurants, bars and other businesses could be left exposed to the coronavirus from customers and could be forced into the unwanted role of “vaccination police.”  Who will have to police the need for a mask and how will one prove that one has received sufficient doses of a vaccine to be fully immunized?

In Canada, there continues to be a reluctance to remove masking requirements, particularly indoors, because of the existence of remaining hot spots and high case rates in some regions.  This is despite the fact that almost half the population has received their first vaccine shot.  Except for a very few anti-mask groups, Canadians appear to be more willing to maintain the course.  As with the general approach to the pandemic, Canadians have been supportive of lockdowns and other preventive measures.  Unlike Americans, Canadians did not portray masking as a political issue, a perception propagated by several prominent American leaders including former President Donald Trump.  One has to ask how individual liberties take precedent over the health and safety of the community at large and the impact on front-line workers?  With close to 600,000 COVID-related deaths in the U.S. to date, Americans and their leaders appear to have already answered this question.  Indeed, several mask supporters were voted out of office in a number of jurisdictions and threats were made against politicians and officials in other places over restrictions.

The experts have made it clear all along, whether vaccinated fully or not, wearing masks helps to control the spread of the virus within the community.  The CDC’s declaration is seen by many as being to soon and too fast given that the number of cases in certain states and localities remains high.  It appears that the agency’s approach has quickly gone from one extreme to another. Add to this the fact that the agency still recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation, as well as in health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and where required by state and local governments, or businesses.  No wonder Americans are confused once again!

As far as I’m concerned, even with having been vaccinated, I will continue to wear a mask as long as it is deemed appropriate, especially in indoor public spaces.  I believe that most Canadians feel the same way.  It’s the least selfish thing that one can do under the circumstances. 

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May 9

Reopening of Businesses Brings With It a Shortage of Workers

by bcurry

As immunization of populations against COVID-19 accelerates in the U.S., Canada and the European Union, the lessening of restrictions will allow more and more businesses to reopen, particularly in the leisure and hospitality sectors.  However, in the U.S. and Canada, federal governments had introduced additional unemployment benefits and stimulus checks to provide financial assistance to people who lost their jobs during the pandemic.  Many of the pandemic-related programs are expected to continue to the end of this summer.  However, as more businesses reopen, there will be a demand for workers to return.  The apparent data currently indicates that many workers are reluctant to return to former employment at this time for a number of very valid reasons.  Employers say it is increasingly difficult to attract job seekers to an industry whose future is more or less tied to whims of the coronavirus and the uncertainty of vaccination campaigns. 

The fact of the matter is that there continue to be pockets of COVID outbreaks in both the U.S. and Canada, regardless of increased immunization within the population.  The chances of front-line workers being exposed to the coronavirus remain high with the arrival of more contagious variants.  A good deal of uncertainty still exists.  With the unemployment benefits in place, one cannot blame many workers for being cautious about returning to employment, especially that which involves low-paying jobs.  In addition, women in particular are affected by the lack of affordable and safe daycare for their children.  Remember that in many jurisdictions, schools remain closed and on-line learning, where available, continues to offer a safer option.

Several American states, more so than Canadian provinces, have moved quickly to open up their economies.  However, despite everything, the pandemic is definitely not over.  Indeed, the so-called ‘third wave’ has been worst in terms of hospitalizations, especially among younger Americans and Canadians.  Case loads are still far too high, threatening to overload health care systems.  For this reason, some governments are reluctant to move too quickly in reopening businesses deemed non-essential.  Here in Canada, until a certain proportion of the population is fully immunized, governments actually prefer that many non-essential workers remain at home.  However, in the U.S., some Republican governors have started slashing jobless benefits in their states, hoping that the loss of generous federal aid might force more people to try to return to work.  Other states now require residents to prove they are seeking jobs to continue collecting benefits.

This past week, it was reported that just 266,000 jobs were added in the U.S. which was a disappointment since expectations were high for a hiring surge in April.  It was anticipated that potentially a million Americans would have returned to work.  Regardless of the impact of unemployment benefits on employment hesitancy, the fact is that many front-line workers continue to be concerned about the pandemic in their industries.  For obvious reasons, people don’t want to be bringing home the virus to their families.  Also, A Pew Research Center survey earlier this year found that 66 percent of the unemployed had “seriously considered” changing their field of work, a far greater percentage than during the Great Recession.  People are now more aware of the potential dangers of such outbreaks, and would be more inclined to seek other less hazardous employment.  As reported for example, grocery stores in the U.S. shed over 49,000 workers in April and nursing care facilities lost nearly 20,000 workers.  The same considerations can be found among Canadian workers in these and other sectors.  In addition, more affluent Americans and Canadians are retiring early because their retirement portfolios have surged in the past year and the pandemic may have taught them that life is too short.

In conclusion, what the pandemic has done is force many of the affected unemployed to reassess their future.  Employers will have to also reassess their employment benefits, working conditions and levels of compensation in order to attract and recruit workers.  As a consequence of the pandemic, the eventual result will most likely represent a major change in the operation of labour markets in most industrialized countries, including those in the so-called ‘gig economy’.

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Apr 11

Hesitancy About Getting COVID Vaccine Remains A Major Concern

by bcurry

In both the U.S. and Canada there is a hesitancy among a certain portion of the population about getting the COVID vaccine, despite the recent surge in vaccine supplies in recent weeks.  The concern is often due to various forms of vaccine scepticism, sometimes attributed to peoples’ continuing distrust of government or mistrust of the health care system.  In the U.S., this mistrust is particularly evident among African Americans, notably where the health care system has frequently let them down in the past.  Among a significant number of white Republican supporters, including college-educated Republican women under age 49, much of the hesitancy can be attributed to the misinformation that flourishes on social media and the mixed messaging from Republican governors that leave people confused.  A number of heavily Republican states are currently finding themselves with surpluses of vaccine doses, including Oklahoma, Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama. 

Part of the problem is that several of these states have eased their restrictions thereby sending a message opposite to a narrative that promotes the urgency of vaccinations.  With the rise in cases involving so-called variants, such as the U.K. variant which is believed to be about 60 percent more contagious and 67 percent deadlier than the original version of the virus, the U.S. and Canada must take the matter of vaccine scepticism seriously.  Both countries have seen a recent surge in outbreaks despite the arrival of vaccines.  The hesitancy has national implications.  As alluded to on several occasions, experts suggest that between 70 percent to 90 percent of all Americans and Canadians must be vaccinated for a country to reach herd immunity, the point at which the virus can no longer spread through the population.

Fortunately, the issue of vaccine hesitancy may be less of a concern in Canada.  A survey of Canadians in March by the Angus Reid Institute noted that the number of respondents who said they would not get the vaccine at all remained relatively steady at about 12 percent.  Since last fall, Canadians’ hesitancy about COVID-19 vaccine appears to have been dropping, with a good majority (over 80 percent) stating that they would get the vaccine as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many Americans.  For example, according to several recent surveys, nearly half of all Republican men and 40 percent of Republicans overall have said they do not plan to get vaccinated.  This attitude is further reflected in their continuing hesitancy to wear facial masks and to socially distance, something the Trump administration encouraged at the pandemic’s outset.

Since it appears that there are people who mistrust politicians on the matter of COVID vaccination, some public health experts suggest that what’s needed are well-crafted messages delivered by doctors, religious leaders and other figures who are trusted in a particular community.  Unless vaccine hesitancy is reduced significantly, there is a real danger of vaccines sitting on shelves somewhere, and possibly passing their best before dates.  In the fight against the spread of the variants, neither the U.S. nor Canada can afford to have this happen!

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Apr 5

Will Religious Organizations Help Prolong The Pandemic?

by bcurry

Once again, we are witnessing a struggle between science and religious beliefs.  This time it has become even more political as a result of states and provinces continuing restrictions on gatherings and rolling out COVID-19 vaccines.  Some churches in both the U.S. and Canada have refused to comply with government restrictions on the size of gatherings, arguing it goes against freedom of religion rights.  However, the courts have generally ruled that governments have a right to implement such restrictions as a matter of public safety, especially given the serious nature of the pandemic.  Then there are the arguments by some churches against being vaccinated, again on religious grounds.  This has major implications for ending the global pandemic and eventually establishing what is referred to as “herd immunity”.

In the U.S. alone there are about 41 million white evangelical adults.  According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center in February, about 45 percent said that they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19, making them among the least likely demographic groups to do so.  In comparison, 22 percent of Catholics in America say they will not get the vaccine, despite the fact that the Vatican has concluded the vaccines are “morally acceptable” and has emphasized the immediate danger posed by the virus.  A number of leaders of white evangelical congregations have been forced out of their churches after promoting health and vaccination guidelines.  Much of the opposition is rooted in a mix of religious faith and a long-standing wariness of mainstream science.  Opposition is also being fuelled by a broader cultural distrust of institutions and gravitation to online conspiracy theories, making such beliefs governed increasingly by political considerations.  There is one clear unavoidable fact that the rates of COVID-19 death have been about twice as high for Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans/Canadians as for white Americans and Canadians.  For this reason, despite over half a million COVID deaths in the U.S., perhaps these white evangelicals don’t believe they are at risk.

What is making the situation worst is the fact that religious leaders continue to mistrust scientific leaders by pointing to sources of misinformation on both sides.  In the case of evangelicals, it is only other evangelicals who can really provide informed guidance based on the facts surrounding this pandemic and the steps needed to end it.  Some leaders have already attempted to try to sway their followers towards the need for vaccination and to continue to take precautions in the short-term at least.  However, as one expert notes, distrust of scientists has become part of cultural identity, of what it means to be white and evangelical in America and Canada.

As both countries go through another wave of coronavirus involving more deadly variants, both political and religious leaders are going to have to convince an outstanding part of the populations that is against being vaccinated on religious and political grounds.  Churches also have a major role to play in poorer more vulnerable countries where there are significant evangelical populations.  Simply put, trusting in God and ignoring the real consequences of this disease isn’t going to help resolve the problem of millions of related deaths occurring around the world.  Whatever our beliefs, we owe it to our fellow humanity to help put an end to this scourge once and for all.  Opposition to the vaccines and restrictions, whether religious or otherwise, has to be overcome sooner rather than later. 

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Apr 1

Current Restrictions on Americans Entering Canada Tough to Take

by bcurry

Canada and the U.S. have the longest land border in the world, one which is normally open for Canadians and Americans to easily cross.  This all changed with the advent of COVID-19 last spring.  Except for essential trade items, land border restrictions for travel between Canada and the U.S. came into effect a year ago and remain in effect through April 21, 2021.  Given the current increase in coronavirus cases in both countries, the restrictions most likely will be extended.  Needless-to-say, this has had a horrific impact on tourism in both countries.

On the other hand, air travel between both countries does allow for the entry of Americans and Canadians into Canada and vice versa but with numerous restrictions.  All airline passengers aged two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel.  Travelers entering Canada must present a credible 14-day quarantine plan.  Failure to provide a negative COVID-19 viral test will require airline passengers to take a COVID-19 molecular test upon their arrival in Canada.  Passengers then must stay in an approved hotel for three nights awaiting the results of the viral test.  Those who test positive are required to finish their 14-day quarantine in a Canadian government-designated facility.  All of this at the cost of the travelers, which can add up to thousands of dollars.

Failure to comply with the current Canadian border restrictions is a serious matter.  Compliance failure is considered an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to $750,000 in fines, and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months.  Something not to be sneezed at!  One can see that, unless someone is involved in essential work and is required to travel, most average Americans will avoid travelling to Canada by air or by land.  Indeed, except for essential workers such as truckers hauling goods across the border, most Americans are being turned away at the border crossings.  This is particularly tough on families where family members are located in both countries.  Allowing for entry because of humanitarian reasons is determined based on each individual case and can take time to adjudicate.  Good luck!

Fortunately, in their usual spirit of cooperation both countries have agreed to each other’s restrictions.  However, this does not make it any easier and numerous complaints have surfaced about the handling of situations involving both Canadians and Americans.  In the meantime, until this pandemic is truly under control, one can only predict that such restrictions will remain in effect for travel between the two countries in the coming months.  Both governments simply prefer that we don’t travel — period.

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