Seizing on sentiment from world leaders, including Prime Minister Trudeau, at the G7 Summit in England on the weekend, leaders from Canada’s travel and tourism sector are continuing to pressure the government to release and act on a clear and immediate national plan to “reopen our economy, ensure the free movement of Canadians across the country, reopen the US-Canada border, and put in place a clear vaccination certification program to allow entry to international travellers.”

The Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable says such measures are “critical” to enable the recovery of the travel and tourism sector and the Canadian economy.

The group, a coalition of leaders in the tourism and travel sector, including representatives from airports, airlines, hotels, and chambers of commerce across the country, calls Canada a clear “outlier” among its G7 peers for not yet having a comprehensive reopening plan.

And while it acknowledges the importance of international discussions, such as those that occurred at the G7 Summit regarding common standards and mutual recognition of digital applications, testing standards, etc., the Roundtable claims “Canada needs a plan of its own – and needs it now.”

Moreover, the group notes the government still has not acted on advice from its own federally appointed COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel (the Expert Panel), which recently published a comprehensive reopening plan for international and domestic travel, particularly around the admission of fully vaccinated foreign nationals into Canada.

The sector is also calling on the federal government to announce clear travel policies for Canadians and foreign nationals travelling to Canada – specifically a single national policy that would replace a patchwork of provincial plans.

“It is imperative that we have logical, clear measures in place to facilitate travel within Canada and internationally. A piecemeal approach to policy announcements on travel will only raise more questions and create confusion,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Hotel Association of Canada president and CEO Susie Grynol added: “Canada cannot afford to be left behind as other countries around the world begin to reopen. Without a clear plan in place, our vibrant tourism industry is at risk and people’s livelihoods are in jeopardy. Fully vaccinated travellers should be afforded the same opportunities, regardless of their nationalities.”