What began for Eric and Kerri Langer as a quick trip to check on their New York property turned into a week-long struggle to reverse an unexpected quarantine order, all because their ArriveCAN app didn’t load when they tried to cross back home.
Their “ridiculous” problem ended with a “ridiculous” solution, the fully vaccinated Coburg, Ont., couple said. On Thursday they found themselves driving back into the U.S. and then re-entering Canada so they could re-show their proof of vaccination papers to an officer.
The second time around their papers were accepted and they were no longer required to quarantine.
“Look it, we had to fight stupid with stupid here,” Eric said while driving home afterwards.
The couple’s experience is one of many CBC News has reported on in recent months that demonstrate ongoing confusion and skepticism surrounding Canada’s land border rules.
Travellers are supposed to pre-register on the ArriveCAN application with their proof of vaccination before they enter Canada for non-essential travel. (CBC / Radio-Canada)
This summer, several travellers reported getting robocalls reminding them to quarantine even if they weren’t required to. One person was fined more than $6,000 when he forgot his email password at the border and was unable to retrieve his negative test results. And in October a Toronto man said he’d been sent other people’s test results and personal information even though he hadn’t travelled for months.
“In the court of law, we would have a right to defend ourselves,” Kerri said. “Here, you’re guilty and there is no way of proving your innocence.”
‘There’s no information. It’s crazy.’
The Langers entered the U.S. last weekend to visit their Lake Placid home for the first time since the pandemic began. They said they made sure to be well-versed on Canada’s travel rules and kept the trip under 72 hours so they wouldn’t be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result.
But when they pulled up to the Thousand Islands Border Crossing to return home Monday morning, the ArriveCAN app with their proof of vaccination wouldn’t load on Eric’s phone, he said. The officer refused to look at their printed documents and ordered they quarantine for two weeks.
As a teacher at a short-staffed elementary school, Kerri said taking that much time off work wasn’t an option. So, when they got home, Eric started making calls to elected officials, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
“The resolution should have been somebody calls to verify that we are indeed vaccinated,” Eric said. “Boom. The quarantine is lifted. But there’s nobody. There’s no information. It’s crazy.”
After a few days of persistent phone calls, he said he reached a CBSA supervisor who advised that even though they were under a quarantine order, they were allowed to drive into the U.S. and back again — a rule the agency confirmed to CBC News. If they showed an officer the right documentation, the order would be lifted.
“I think the ridiculousness of today is that I couldn’t get in my car and drive to the [grocery store] but I could get into my car and drive across the border and that was OK,” Kerri said.
Kelly Sundberg, a professor at Mount Royal University who spent 15 years as an officer with the CBSA, said this case exemplifies the issues raised in the auditor general’s scathing report this week about the federal government’s handling of its border during the pandemic.
“The rules change. How they’re enforced changes. Interpretation of these rules is dependent on the officer’s location and all in all it really does nothing to safeguard or protect Canadians,” Sundberg said.
“What it does do is cause extreme frustration and understandable hard feelings.”
CBSA accepting in-person documents, minister says
Although the Langers aren’t sure why their second time around was a success, a couple of factors were at play this week that could provide an explanation.
Eric said when they were crossing back into Canada on Thursday they were also informed by an officer the ArriveCAN app was down and therefore printed documentation was acceptable regardless of the rules.
The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed the service disruption will run until Tuesday as the app is undergoing a scheduled update.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino rises during Question Period on December 9, 2021 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Also, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino had faced questions from the Opposition a few days before, on Monday afternoon, in the House of Commons.
“Let us talk about the ArriveCAN app that is supposed to protect Canadians but is actually making things worse at the border,” said Conservative health critic Luc Berthold.
“People are being misinformed. No one is answering the telephone to help them. Seniors without smartphones cannot travel. We are hearing stories of mandatory quarantines for triple-vaccinated people.”
In response, Mendicino said he’d directed CBSA to accept in-person information at the borders as well as on the ArriveCAN app.
The CBSA told CBC News Friday night the ArriveCAN app remains mandatory for all land travellers, but they can now show a printed receipt at the border if they don’t have a smartphone or mobile data.
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.
HALIFAX – The federal Fisheries Department says an endangered North Atlantic right whale has become entangled in gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The department says the whale was sighted Wednesday by a Transport Canada aerial surveillance team northeast of the Gaspé Peninsula, off Anticosti Island.
Officials say it’s not known what type of gear has entangled the whale or where the gear came from.
Based on observation, experts at the New England Aquarium have confirmed the whale is a female known as Chiminea.
The department says it is continuing to monitor the area and if the whale is located and conditions allow, efforts will be made to disentangle the animal.
Last October, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimated there were 356 North Atlantic right whales left on the planet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Canadian pop icon Nelly Furtado has been named one of three headliners for the opening ceremony of the upcoming Invictus Games.
Furtado, from Victoria, will share the stage with alt-pop star Roxane Bruneau of Delson, Que., and American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan.
They’ll be part of the show that opens the multi-sport event in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., in February.
The Invictus Games sees wounded, injured, and sick military service members and Veterans compete in 11 disciplines.
The Vancouver Whistler 2025 Games will be the first of seven editions to feature winter adaptive sports, including alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling.
British Columbia’s Lower Mainland will host the Invictus Games from Feb. 8-16.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
