Canadians not vaccinated against COVID-19 can now re-enter the country without being tested or being required to quarantine upon their return.
A cabinet order affecting mandatory vaccinations, testing and quarantine of international travellers has expired. It also spells the end of the ArriveCAN app.
Wayne Anderson is Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Piney. He says he is very glad that border restrictions have lifted.
"The border closures were unnecessary in my opinion, and I don't know why they did that," says Anderson. "That was just terrible."
According to Anderson, these restrictions were extremely cumbersome for their elderly population, and it was the required use of the ArriveCAN app that was most frustrating.
"We have very poor cell service," he explains. "If you had to do the ArriveCAN app and you don't have a cell phone or if you're an elderly person with no computer skills how do you do an ArriveCAN app?"
Anderson says many of his residents drive down to Roseau, Minnesota to see a doctor. But, during these last two years, he says a lot of them opted to skip their doctor's appointments rather than go through the hassle of following government-imposed orders. Anderson says trying to then find a doctor in Steinbach or Winnipeg proved to be very difficult for his residents, due to a shortage of physicians.
"It's been really trying times for our elderly people," he adds.
Now that those travel mandates have been eliminated, Anderson says it should be business as usual again for his residents.
Non-U.S. travelers seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and provide proof of vaccination upon request.
These restrictions apply to non-U.S. travelers who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.