432-00890 (Employment and labour)

Even before COVID-19 was declared to be a global pandemic, our government had taken strong measures to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in Canada, which have continued to evolve since that time. Being considered an “essential worker” or “essential employee” in the province or municipality in which the person is seeking to enter, or by the individual’s workplace, does not automatically mean the person is exempt from pre-arrival testing or quarantine under the federal border measures.

Enhanced border measures, such as pre-arrival testing and quarantine requirements, are explicitly stated within the OIC, and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) border services officers (BSOs) do not have the discretion to exempt travellers, who otherwise do not meet the exemptions, from these requirements based on an assumed level of risk or any other factor. BSOs make decisions regarding traveller admissibility and eligibility based on the information available to them at time of processing. The onus is on the traveller to demonstrate that they meet the requirements for entry into Canada, including whether or not an exemption to public health measures may be applicable.

Every day, BSOs make over 35,000 decisions across the country and those decisions are made based on all laws and information made available to them at the time of entry. To facilitate decision making, the CBSA provides support to frontline BSOs through operational guideline bulletins, 7/24 live support access and regular case reviews. In addition, the CBSA conducts detailed technical briefings prior to the implementation of new or amended OICs to support the accurate implementation of new provisions and ensure clarity for frontline employees. The CBSA has also established a process to monitor decisions made by BSOs as they relate to the application of OICs for essential service providers and will continue to make adjustments or review the CBSA operational guidance to BSOs, as required. Should the CBSA discover that an incorrect assessment at the border has been made, it works with the Public Health Agency of Canada to rectify the situation.

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) provides $500 per week for a maximum of four weeks to enable workers to stay home if they are unable to work at least 50% of their scheduled work week because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions, or are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that make them more susceptible to COVID-19. People are not eligible to receive the CRSB when they have to miss work to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Recently, the Government of Canada has increased the number of weeks available for the recovery benefits. This includes an increase in the number of weeks available under the CRSB from 2 to 4 weeks.

In addition, in March 2021, the Government of Canada added a new eligibility condition so that those who travel internationally and are required to quarantine or isolate under any order made under the Quarantine Act upon their return to Canada will not be eligible to receive the CRSB, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit or the Canada Recovery Benefit during the period of their quarantine or isolation.

However, exemptions are provided for those travelling to receive necessary medical treatment or to accompany someone who is travelling to receive necessary medical treatment and requires assistance. An exemption is also provided to those who need to isolate upon their return to Canada but would otherwise have been exempt from quarantine (such as a truck driver or a worker who regularly crosses the border for work).

The goal of Canada’s COVID-19 pandemic response is to prevent serious illness and death while minimizing societal disruption. Border measures taken under the Quarantine Act are focused on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 and its variants in Canada by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country.

Since March 25, 2020, border measures have included requirements for non-exempt travellers to quarantine (if asymptomatic) or to isolate (if symptomatic) for a 14-day period and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or to quarantine in a designated quarantine facility and undergo health assessments, depending on certain factors. Since February 14, 2021, non-exempt travellers have been required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of arrival (or proof of a positive COVID-19 molecular test, taken at least 14 days and no more than 90 days before arrival). Furthermore, since February 22, 2021, non-exempt travellers have been subject to additional requirements for on-arrival and post-arrival testing. For travellers arriving by air, a stay in government-authorized accommodation pending receipt of a negative result from their on-arrival test has also been in effect since February 22, 2021.

On June 9, 2021, the Government of Canada announced plans to begin easing some border measures through a phased approach to allow certain exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers who are already eligible to enter Canada. Under Phase I of the approach, fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air or land will continue to be required to complete the mandatory pre- and on-arrival testing. However, those arriving by air will no longer be required to stay at a government-authorized hotel while awaiting their on-arrival test, and all travellers will now be permitted to leave quarantine upon receipt of a negative result from their on-arrival COVID-19 test. These travellers will not be required to complete a test on Day 8. Fully vaccinated individuals are defined as those who have received the full dosage of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to entering Canada.

Recognizing that continued safe and efficient flow of essential border traffic is critical to our economy, exemptions to border measures have been put in place for essential service workers, such as truckers, medical professionals and some other critical cohorts. These travellers may be required to observe other federal and provincial public health measures (for example, wearing a mask when they are in public settings), and may be subject to federal alternative testing protocols, as required.

While the Government of Canada continues to advise Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to mitigate the further spread of COVID-19 and its variants into Canada, current restrictions will be modified when appropriate, and as vaccination progresses, in accordance with the latest scientific evidence, and in collaboration with our provincial, territorial and international counterparts.