Canada looking ‘quite carefully’ at PCR testing rules as U.S. land border reopens

Travellers trying to enter Canada from the reopened U.S. land border crossing must show a negative PCR test, taken within the last 72 hours, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

The United States reopened its land border to Canadians who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on Monday, but travellers will still have to show a negative PCR test on their way back into Canada, and there’s no clear indication of when that might change.

Right now, any traveller trying to enter Canada must provide a negative PCR test taken at their own expense, and taken no more than 72 hours before their arrival at the border.

The government told Global News it is looking “quite carefully” at the necessity of these tests, but it has no plans to immediately drop the requirement — despite calls from both border town mayors and industry representatives to do just that.

“We are looking at these requirements quite carefully. As the COVID situation remains volatile, officials and experts will continue to evaluate the measures in place, and make necessary adjustments as required,” said Andrew MacKendrick, a spokesperson for Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, in a statement emailed to Global News on Monday.

His statement came just hours after the mayors from border cities like Windsor and Niagara Falls called on the Canadian government to ditch the pricey PCR test obligation as soon as possible.

“When you tell a family, ‘it’s going to cost you another $1,000 to visit … and you won’t have any more to eat or a nicer place to stay,’ they choose not to,” said Jim Diodati, who is the mayor of Niagara Falls.

“They’re a lot like water. They take the path of least resistance.”

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens echoed Diodati’s concerns. He said that while there’s now a “pathway” for families to reunite on either side of the border, it’s been “dampened” by the “unreasonable and costly” tests that sometimes cost as much as $200.