Canadians stranded in the United Kingdom are facing uncertainty around how or when they will be able to get home and in some cases where they will stay while waiting out the travel ban.
Brooke Johnson, 42, is from Niagara Region, but had travelled to London for work. Her contract ended on Dec. 18, and she had been preparing to leave when Canada suspended all commercial and private passenger flights from the U.K.
That initial 72-hour suspension on flights from the U.K. has now been extended for two weeks until Jan. 6, as Canada tries to prevent a new variant of the novel coronavirus detected there from spreading here.
There are concerns that the new variant is significantly more contagious than other strains, though it may not be any more deadly.
Johnson said she is stressed about “this open ended thing of not knowing when this is going to end or where I am going to stay.”
The problem, Johnson said, is that her accommodation runs out soon and parts of London and areas in the southeast of England are under stricter, “Tier 4” COVID-19 restrictions.
“It’s a little scary because of course the hotels and Airbnb have been closed for bookings so I have somewhere to stay until December 28th, but after that it’s a big question mark,” she said.
Reports of thousands left stranded in the U.K.
There are reports of many people left stranded in the U.K. as dozens of countries around the world imposed travel restrictions on fights from the country.
Global Affairs Canada said there are currently 11,038 Canadians registered as being in the country, but this is a voluntary registration and not all may wish to leave.
Johnson said she has a few days to find a place to stay.
“In normal times, I would check into a hotel or stay with friends, but who’s gonna take me in now in the middle of the pandemic when things are raging in London? I’ll be putting myself and others at risk,” she said.
“It is what it is right now, but it’s really hard and stressful.”
Saeed Durhan, had travelled to London to vacation and visit friends and family. Now he and his 15-year-old son are unable to book a flight home. (Submitted by Saeed Durhan)
Saeed Durhan, 51, was lucky enough to be able to extend his hotel stay, but it’s costly.
“We’ve been scrambling to find a flight home since Sunday,” he said.
“We haven’t found anything.”
Durhan travelled from Mississauga for vacation and to visit family but now he can’t book a flight to get him and his 15-year-old son home.
He has even tried to book a flight back to Canada through Washington D.C., but was told United Airlines will only take U.S. citizens.
Durhan said there has been no help, guidance or direction from the Canadian government or consulate office.
“I’m not looking for a free ride here. What I would like the Canadian government to do is exactly what the US government did,” said Durhan.
“They have United Airlines taking only U.S. citizens. Why can’t Canada do the same thing with Air Canada? There are Air Canada planes sitting at Heathrow Airport. Why can’t they do the exact same thing and say only Canadian residents can board the plane and go back home?”
Global Affairs Canada says there are no plans to offer repatriation or assisted departure flights.
In a statement to CBC News, it said it is aware of Canadians abroad seeking to return to Canada.
The government of Canada has advised against non-essential travel outside of Canada since March 13, 2020.
But Global Affairs Canada says it continues to monitor the situation closely.
“The Canadian consulate basically told me I’m on my own,” said Durhan. “The Canadian government is leaving its own citizens completely stranded.”
MONTREAL – Quebec’s ombudsperson is warning that public services are becoming “dehumanized” in the province amid a rise in demand for them.
Marc-André Dowd released his annual report today, which highlights several examples of people receiving inadequate care across the health network in the 12 months leading to March 31.
One dying man who lived alone was denied help cleaning his cat’s litter box by his local health clinic, a service Dowd says should have been given for “humanitarian reasons.”
Dowd also describes staff at a long-term care home feeding residents “mechanically” and talking among each other — despite health ministry guidelines directing staff to maintain eye contact with residents.
The ombudsperson says his office received a record number of problems to investigate across the province’s public services — 24,867 compared with 22,053 last year.
He says his office investigated 13,358 cases between April 2023 and March of this year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Canada next week after a planned trip in July was cancelled amid political turmoil in France.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in a statement today that Macron will be in Canada Wednesday and Thursday after the leaders attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
Trudeau will welcome Macron in Ottawa on Wednesday, where they are expected to discuss collaboration on geopolitical issues including their ongoing support for Ukraine.
They are also expected to discuss ways to strengthen the response to emerging threats, such as disinformation.
In Montreal, Trudeau intends to show off the city’s artificial intelligence sector, while both countries reaffirm their commitment to work with counterparts on responsible use of AI.
The leaders will also discuss promoting the French language ahead of the Francophonie summit being held in France next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Health Canada has authorized Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against currently circulating variants of the virus.
The protein-based vaccine, called Nuvaxovid, has been reformulated to target the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron.
It will replace the previous version of the vaccine, which targeted the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron.
Health Canada recently asked provinces and territories to get rid of their older COVID-19 vaccines to ensure the most current vaccine will be used during this fall’s respiratory virus season.
Earlier this week, Health Canada approved Moderna’s updated mRNA COVID vaccine.
It is still reviewing Pfizer’s updated mRNA vaccine, with a decision expected soon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously described the Novavax vaccine as an mRNA shot.
