Several tourism trade industry groups representing various sectors of the industry have recently called for an end to the government’s mandatory on-arrival testing introduced late last year for passengers arriving into Canada from all destinations other than the United States.

Additionally a number of experts, including Mona Nemer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s chief science adviser, have recently called for more flexibility at the border, questioning the effectiveness of such an obligation targeting travellers who are already doubly vaccinated. The latter must also provide, before boarding, a first negative PCR test. “The measures in force at the border must be adapted to the reality on the ground,” she said.

Beth Potter, president and CEO of TIAC, said, “As we watch the loosening of other requirements, such as isolation periods, it would seem that loosening of requirements around travel should follow suit.

“We would love to get to the point where you only need to do a rapid test on arrival, then carry on.”

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said on January 14 that the testing program will be looked at “over time.”

“It is a capacity drain on the system as a whole,” she said, acknowledging the concerns raised by the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable group.

A Radio-Canada report says the Canadian government could eliminate mandatory on-arrival testing within days.

Their report says the government in Ottawa “plans to backtrack and return, quickly, to the establishment of random tests” for air passengers arriving in Canada.

“The final decision has not yet been made, but, according to a federal source very close to the file, it is a matter of weeks, even days,” said Radio-Canada.

Several tourism groups and a group that represents Canadian travel agents have recently called for an end to the government’s mandatory on-arrival testing, which was introduced late last year for passengers in-coming from all destinations other than the US.

Stay tuned.