- Mandatory pre-departure PCR testing for fully vaccinated travellers to Canada is keeping American and Mexican visitors at home and deteriorating trade and economic partnership in North America
- Business leaders join the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable in calling on the Canadian government to remove the pre-departure PCR test for fully vaccinated visitors to streamline entry requirements across North America
Together with the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable ("The Roundtable"), American and Canadian business leaders are calling on the Presidents of the United States and Mexico and Canada's Prime Minister to streamline cross-border travel rules when they meet at tomorrow's Three Amigos Summit in Washington. Removing the mandatory pre-departure PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers coming into Canada is critical for a strong economic recovery in North America.
Over many decades and various rounds of trade negotiations, Canada, the United States, and Mexico have reached a balanced, reciprocal trade agreement that grows the North American economy.
Our trade negotiations have taught us that rules need to change with the times. And now is the time for Canada to change its rules for pre-departure testing.
A pre-departure PCR test for arrivals into Canada runs counter to the recommendations made by the Canadian federal government's COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel ("The Expert Panel"), which concluded that fully vaccinated travellers should not require a pre-departure test for a trip of any duration. Travel measures should be based on a traveller's vaccination status and should be consistent with the recommendation of the Government Expert Panel. The Canadian government's mandatory pre-departure PCR test to enter the country leads international travellers to do business elsewhere and discourages cross-border commerce, trade, and travel. Inconsistent U.S. land and air travel policies also create confusion and need to be consistent and science-based.
Even more concerning, Canada's travel rules are out of step with the international community. Countries including France, Portugal, Germany and the United Kingdom have recognized that requiring pre-departure and arrival tests for vaccinated travellers is redundant and have exempted fully vaccinated Canadian travellers from pre-departure testing requirements.
The pandemic, vaccination status, and available science has changed; so too should the response and measures to keep Canadians safe while allowing the North American economic partnership to prosper once again.
SOURCE Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable