TORONTO —
Transport Canada says it is further easing travel restrictions in the country and will allow more airports to accept international passenger flights at the end of the month.
The department noted that the next step in easing travel restrictions is to expand the number of Canadian airports that can accept international passengers.
As of Nov. 30, international flights carrying passengers will be allowed to land at these Canadian airports:
St. John’s International
John C. Munro Hamilton International
Region of Waterloo International
Regina International
Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International
Kelowna International
Abbotsford International
Victoria International
“These airports, in cooperation with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada, are working to implement the measures necessary to start safely welcoming international passengers as of November 30,” Transport Canada said in a statement.
These airports are in addition to the 10 Canadian airports currently accepting international flights in Halifax, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said during a press briefing on Tuesday announcing the news that Canada’s increased vaccination levels have allowed Ottawa to “safely reopen” these airports.
“The global pandemic has significantly impacted our daily lives. It has limited our ability to travel for business, and kept us from travelling to visit our family and friends. But we know that vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Vaccinations are helping to keep us safe while we cautiously return to doing the things we love,” Alghabra said.
Speaking at the Waterloo International Airport in Breslau, Ont., Alghabra said these airports were selected after considering passenger demand, geography and the preparedness of each airport to resume receiving international flights under current public health conditions.
“Opening these airports to international travel is another step forward in rebuilding and reopening our travel system,” he said. “This move will help ensure travellers are able to access more regional airports for their international travels this winter, while continuing to support our government’s measured approach to reopening our borders.”
Alghabra added that further increasing Canada’s vaccination levels will be “crucial” in preventing a return to previous travel restrictions.
“We don’t want to ever go back to those days,” he said.
The federal government first reduced the number of airports permitted to accept international passenger flights in February as part of a move to discourage non-essential trips, slow the spread of COVID-19 variants, and concentrate the locations of quarantine hotels.
Transport Canada noted that additional airports will be considered “as conditions dictate, based on demand, operational capacity, the epidemiological situation in Canada, and recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada.”
The department warned that border restrictions and public health measures remain subject to change depending on the COVID-19 situation in Canada.
“The Government of Canada continues to work closely with airports and aviation operators to ensure appropriate procedures are put in place to protect travellers and workers,” Transport Canada said in the statement.
Canadian travellers need vaccine documentation for almost every mode of transportation. As of Oct. 30, employees and passengers in the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors have to be fully vaccinated. There is a short grace period in which proof of a negative COVID-19 test will be acceptable to board, though by Nov. 30 that option will no longer be available.
The federal government announced Oct. 21 that it was lifting the global advisory asking Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside the country, but is continuing to advise against travel on cruise ships.
The government is now urging Canadians to be fully vaccinated before a trip, to pay attention to COVID-19 activity at their destination, to follow local public health measures and wear a face mask while travelling.
Canada opened its borders last month to non-essential international travellers who have received both doses of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated travellers from the United States were allowed to cross the border into Canada in August.
The U.S. government recently announced that its land borders will reopen to non-essential Canadian travellers on Nov. 8.
With files from CTVNews.ca’s Sonja Puzic and Rachel Aiello
Correction:
This story has been updated to correct the number of Canadian airports currently accepting international flights.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
