PCR testing requirement to remain as land border opens: Blair
CBC
Canadians will still need to take an expensive PCR test in order to return to Canada from the United States after the land border reopens to fully vaccinated travellers in November.
In an interview on Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said a negative PCR test has "proven to be one of the more effective requirements" for travellers and that maintaining the requirement was a recommendation of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
"Again, we're continuing to evaluate it, and we'll look at the experience in other jurisdictions. But right now, it's been a very effective protection for Canadians," Blair told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton. He noted that some provinces are "very concerned" that people entering Canada are doing so safely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PCR testing requirement has become a significant point of concern since the U.S. announced it would be reopening its land border to fully vaccinated travellers on Nov. 8.
Currently, Canadians can fly to the U.S. so long as they have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours — including a much cheaper and more easily accessed antigen test.
But to return to Canada, Canadians are required to provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. Some PCR tests can cost more than $139 US.
Still, Blair said he expected "some pretty significant" increases in the number of travellers once the new rules go into effect.
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