Ottawa facing pressure to nix pricey COVID test rule for fully vaccinated travellers

Calls are mounting for Canada to nix its pricey pre-arrival COVID-19 test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers.

Despite easing many travel restrictions for vaccinated travellers, the federal government still requires they provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test before entering Canada. 

The big complaint about the test is the price. Depending on where they're travelling from, people can shell out between $150 and $300 for a PCR test, the type of molecular test most widely available. 

For some, that added fee can make travelling too expensive.

"In many cases, the cost of PCR testing can be higher than the cost of the travel itself," said Jana Ray, chief operating officer of CanAge, a seniors' advocacy group. 

Ray spoke at a news conference on Thursday in Toronto, held by seniors' groups and members of the travel industry. They called on Ottawa to drop the test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers, and talked about how the test's cost impacts seniors, including snowbirds.

"Travel is becoming cost-prohibitive for our members, many of whom are retirees on fixed or limited incomes," said Michael MacKenzie, executive director of the Canadian Snowbird Association.

"The time has come for the government to end these unnecessary barriers and return to affordable travel."

Conrad Bostick, 77, of Airdrie, Alta., agrees. He and wife, who are both fully vaccinated, traditionally travel to Mexico for three weeks each November. But this year, the retired couple — who live on a fixed income — scrapped their trip because of the added cost of the PCR test. 

"It's a huge disappointment," said Bostick from his home in Airdrie. "What's the point of everyone being vaccinated if you still have to get [a test]?"

Canada first introduced a COVID-19 test requirement for air travellers at the height of the pandemic in January 2021. It then extended the rule to land travellers the following month. 

The rule requires all recreational travellers entering Canada show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their departing flight or planned arrival at the land border. 

Months after introducing the rule, Canada started to loosen other travel restrictions, such as allowing fully vaccinated travellers entering the country to skip quarantine. 

But, so far, the federal government has refused to budge on dropping the test requirement.