We are now in Phase 3 of our reopening plan and fully immunized people from provinces or territories outside of Atlantic Canada can come to Nova Scotia without having to self-isolate.
That means two weeks following a second dose of COVID-19, friends and family living in other parts of the country can visit us and we can hop on a plane and go see them without having to quarantine upon return.
It’s been well over a year since most of us have needed to go to Halifax Stanfield International Airport and, like every other facility, COVID-19 has changed the way it operates.
HalifaxToday.ca contacted Halifax International Airport Authority spokesperson Leah Batstone to outline what you need to know.
Picking up a friend or relative
If you are picking someone up, you’re probably used to going in and waiting for them outside of the baggage claim, but that currently isn’t allowed.
“The terminal building is closed to anyone who is not a worker or a traveller,” Batstone said. “People aren’t permitted to come inside to the arrivals area and greet their family and friends.”
“We’re asking everyone to remain outside in one of the designated waiting areas along the curb, so that would be along the lower road area where you’d go for a rental car. There is a waiting area there for passenger pick-up, so we’d just like everyone to wait there.”
Masks, distancing and cleaning
We’re now all used to wearing masks in public and keeping our distance from others. These measures are also required at the airport.
Batstone said masks are mandatory in both the terminal building and the parkade.
“But there may be times during the travel process where you may actually be asked to lower your mask, which some people don’t realize, but it’s part of the identification process,” she explained. “Otherwise, it’s meant to be worn throughout your entire travel journey.”
“We also have physical distancing markers in place to allow for that when possible, and there are hand sanitizer stations in place throughout the building in high traffic areas.”
Batstone said enhanced cleaning procedures in place.
“Since last March, we’ve had additional cleaning staff on site working pretty much around the clock to try and make sure the building is as clean as possible. That includes sanitizing those high touch areas, like elevator buttons, washrooms, railing and things like that.”
Getting to and from the airport
If you want to drive yourself to the airport, you can’t use the Park’N Fly lot as it’s currently closed, but the parkade remains open.
“There are some levels that are closed off because of maintenance and the low passenger volume, but there’s the exterior lot next to the parkade that people are allowed to use,” explained Batstone.
You can still take a cab.
Halifax Transit’s airport bus is also running, but anyone who has to self-isolate isn’t allowed to take it, which includes travellers from outside Atlantic Canada who have only had one vaccine, or who haven’t had any doses.
Shops and restaurants
Before we get into the details, the main thing you probably need to know is that the Tim Hortons past security is closed, “so if you want your fix, you have to get it before you go through security,” Batstone recommended.
“It is important for people to know, if they haven’t been here in a while, they might not see the same businesses open that they would expect,” she added.
But there are spots to grab a bite to eat or do a little shopping while waiting for your flight.
“Before you go through security, there are some options there for fast food, and Hudson offers chips, drinks and snacks,” Batstone stated.
And the Liquid Assets location post-security is still open if you want to bring some local beer, wine and spirits with you to your destination.
As more passengers return to the airport, more stores will open, but for now, here’s where you can shop or eat:
Pre-Security
A&W
Hudson
Tim Hortons
Subway
Post-Security
Booster Juice
Connected Coffee
The Firkin & Flyer
Hudson
Liquid Assets
Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form and voluntary testing
Travellers from outside of Atlantic Canada will need to upload proof of vaccination when filling out the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. They might also need to show that proof when arriving in the province.
Batstone said the provincial screening process is set up after baggage claim.
“There’s been provincial staff on site and they verify people’s documentation, their check-in form, so the province manages that piece,” she said. “Once the traveller goes through that process, the next step is the voluntary PCR COVID-19 testing.”
Passengers are handed a self-swab kit, which has to be done within 48 hours and then dropped off at a primary assessment centre.
For incoming travellers who are still subject to mandatory testing, this counts as the first required test.
Where can I fly?
Before COVID-19 kicked in Haligonians could fly direct to 46 locations on 17 airlines. That was cut back to only four destinations on two airlines. The airport hopes that quickly changes.
“We know there’s a lot of pent-up demand when you consider that, in Atlantic Canada, a lot of people here haven’t seen family and friends in over a year,” Batstone said. “And there’s lots of people from other parts of Canada that want to come visit.”
She said service is already starting to return for several destinations.
“Over the next coming days we have return of service to Gander, Deer Lake, Goose Bay, Sydney and Edmonton,” she stated. “So we’re starting to see some of that service come back, and that’s based on demand and the easing of travel restrictions.”
“As the reopening plan continues and more and more people are vaccinated, we expect that will continue to increase.”
International flights are currently restricted by the federal government to the country’s four largest airports in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.
“So that’s good for people to know. If they want to travel to an international or U.S. destination, they’ll have to have a connection at some point,” Batstone said.
TORONTO – Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has signed a deal that will result in the creation of its first eyewear collection.
The deal announced on Thursday by the Toronto-based luxury apparel company comes in the form of an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement with Marchon Eyewear Inc.
The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed, but Marchon produces eyewear for brands including Lacoste, Nike, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Longchamp and Zeiss.
Marchon plans to roll out both sunglasses and optical wear under the Canada Goose name next spring, starting in North America.
Canada Goose says the eyewear will be sold through optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose shops and its website.
Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss told The Canadian Press in August that he envisioned his company eventually expanding into eyewear and luggage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Almost seven years since news broke of an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of packaged bread across Canada, the saga isn’t over: the Competition Bureau continues to investigate the companies that may have been involved, and two class-action lawsuits continue to work their way through the courts.
Here’s a timeline of key events in the bread price-fixing case.
Oct. 31, 2017: The Competition Bureau says it’s investigating allegations of bread price-fixing and that it was granted search warrants in the case. Several grocers confirm they are co-operating in the probe.
Dec. 19, 2017: Loblaw and George Weston say they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” to raise the price of packaged bread. The companies say they have been co-operating in the Competition Bureau’s investigation since March 2015, when they self-reported to the bureau upon discovering anti-competitive behaviour, and are receiving immunity from prosecution. They announce they are offering $25 gift cards to customers amid the ongoing investigation into alleged bread price-fixing.
Jan. 31, 2018: In court documents, the Competition Bureau says at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread between about 2001 and 2016.
Dec. 20, 2019: A class-action lawsuit in a Quebec court against multiple grocers and food companies is certified against a number of companies allegedly involved in bread price-fixing, including Loblaw, George Weston, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger (which have all denied involvement, except for Loblaw and George Weston, which later settled with the plaintiffs).
Dec. 31, 2021: A class-action lawsuit in an Ontario court covering all Canadian residents except those in Quebec who bought packaged bread from a company named in the suit is certified against roughly the same group of companies.
June 21, 2023: Bakery giant Canada Bread Co. is fined $50 million after pleading guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act as part of the Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation.
Oct. 25 2023: Canada Bread files a statement of defence in the Ontario class action denying participating in the alleged conspiracy and saying any anti-competitive behaviour it participated in was at the direction and to the benefit of its then-majority owner Maple Leaf Foods, which is not a defendant in the case (neither is its current owner Grupo Bimbo). Maple Leaf calls Canada Bread’s accusations “baseless.”
Dec. 20, 2023: Metro files new documents in the Ontario class action accusing Loblaw and its parent company George Weston of conspiring to implicate it in the alleged scheme, denying involvement. Sobeys has made a similar claim. The two companies deny the allegations.
July 25, 2024: Loblaw and George Weston say they agreed to pay a combined $500 million to settle both the Ontario and Quebec class-action lawsuits. Loblaw’s share of the settlement includes a $96-million credit for the gift cards it gave out years earlier.
Sept. 12, 2024: Canada Bread files new documents in Ontario court as part of the class action, claiming Maple Leaf used it as a “shield” to avoid liability in the alleged scheme. Maple Leaf was a majority shareholder of Canada Bread until 2014, and the company claims it’s liable for any price-fixing activity. Maple Leaf refutes the claims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:MFI, TSX:MRU, TSX:EMP.A, TSX:WN)
TORONTO – TD Bank Group, which is mired in a money laundering scandal in the U.S., says chief executive Bharat Masrani will retire next year.
Masrani, who will retire officially on April 10, 2025, says the bank’s, “anti-money laundering challenges,” took place on his watch and he takes full responsibility.
The bank named Raymond Chun, TD’s group head, Canadian personal banking, as his successor.
As part of a transition plan, Chun will become chief operating officer on Nov. 1 before taking over the top job when Masrani steps down at the bank’s annual meeting next year.
TD also announced that Riaz Ahmed, group head, wholesale banking and president and CEO of TD Securities, will retire at the end of January 2025.
TD has taken billions in charges related to ongoing U.S. investigations into the failure of its anti-money laundering program.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
