Some Canadian travellers required to spend days in isolation waiting for COVID-19 test results after returning from abroad want to know why Ottawa allows tested travellers arriving from the U.S. to skip quarantine.
“There’s something fishy,” said Kevin McNally of Gatineau, Que. who flew from Panama to Montreal on Jan. 7. He was tested on arrival and waited six days at home in quarantine before he received his negative test result.
McNally said it was hard to endure the long wait, knowing tested travellers who arrive in Canada after being in the U.S. are exempt from the quarantine requirement.
“I felt like a prisoner in my own country and yet an American can come over here and not quarantine,” said McNally who works as a travel consultant. “It makes no sense.”
As part of its beefed-up arrival-testing program, Ottawa is doling out PCR tests daily to thousands of randomly selected, fully vaccinated international travellers upon arrival.
After returning from a trip to Panama, Kevin McNally of Gatineau, Que. waited six days in quarantine before he got his negative test results. (Kevin McNally)
According to rules posted on the government’s website, randomly tested travellers who have been in a country outside the U.S. within the past 14 days must quarantine while waiting for their test results. Those who test negative can leave isolation.
But tested travellers, including Canadians, who haven’t been anywhere outside Canada except the U.S. within the past 14 days can skip quarantine while awaiting their results — even though cases of the highly contagious Omicron variant are surging in the U.S.
All unvaccinated travellers entering from any country are tested upon arrival and must quarantine for 14 days.
Government responds
CBC News asked the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) why vaccinated travellers from the U.S. who are tested get to skip quarantine.
In an email sent Monday, spokesperson Tammy Jarbeau didn’t respond to the question and instead repeated the quarantine rules from the government’s website.
Earlier this month, PHAC told CBC News that its travel rules are rooted in science.
“Border measures are based on available data, scientific evidence and monitoring of the epidemiological situation both in Canada and internationally,” said spokesperson André Gagnon in an email on Jan. 7.
Sherif Barakat of Ottawa said that statement doesn’t add up. He flew home from Cancun on Jan. 9, was tested upon arrival and waited five days at home in quarantine before he received his negative test result.
Barakat said the government has yet to offer up the science explaining why he had to quarantine but someone entering from the U.S. is exempt.
“If you’re treating people differently, then the question is why?” he said. “The disease doesn’t have any boundaries.”
Dr. Prabhat Jha, director of the Centre for Global Health Research at St. Michael’s Hospital, said it’s time to rethink Canada’s mass arrival testing program. (Unity Health Toronto)
Global epidemiologist, Dr. Prabhat Jha said there’s no scientific explanation for less stringent rules for travellers from the U.S., as Omicron has spread globally.
“What’s the difference between someone coming from the U.K. or someone coming from New York? There’s not in terms of the Omicron prevalence and the spread,” said Jha, who works at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
Get rid of arrival testing?
Ottawa’s arrival testing program is also under scrutiny, because the government is potentially spending millions of dollars daily on the program at a time when Omicron has already spread across Canada.
PHAC said the government recently boosted its testing capacity to test 26,000 travellers daily upon arrival and that the cost for each test can range from $143 to $188.
Medical experts are questioning the usefulness of screening air travellers for COVID-19 using a PCR test, arguing that testing resources could be better targeted elsewhere. 1:59
Jha said Canada laying out disparate rules for tested travellers from the U.S. is just one more reason why its arrival testing program is flawed and needs to be scrapped.
“Insist on a pre-departure, high-quality test before [travellers] leave and beyond that, anything else you do gives you so little gains, it’s just not worth it,” said Jha. “It’s a waste of resources.”
The government is ramping up arrival testing with the goal of testing all fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada from outside the U.S. upon arrival. PHAC has yet to explain why it will continue only randomly testing vaccinated travellers entering from the U.S.
On Friday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam admitted that Canada’s mass-arrival testing program is questionable at this point.
“It is a capacity drain on the systems as a whole,” she said at a news conference. “The whole world has Omicron.”
Tam suggested that doing some random arrival testing to keep tabs on the coronavirus would suffice. However, she said that Canada’s current goal to test most travellers upon arrival would stay in place for now.
The Internet’s most powerful ability is its propensity to spread. This holiday season, amidst the hustle of shopping, party planning, and reflections, let’s use this power to spread joy and generosity. This December, I invite you to transform your social media feeds into a canvas of goodwill, reminding your followers and communities that even small acts of kindness can create waves of joy and inspiration.
Before you dive into creating festive holiday content, it’s crucial to set the stage by updating the aesthetics of your social media profiles to mirror the holiday season. Using Canva (www.canva.com), refresh your banner/cover photo on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. with holiday-themed images. Change your profile picture to one that captures the festive spirit, such as wearing a Santa hat, standing next to a Christmas tree, or under Christmas lights, or wearing a Christmas sweater.
Once your social media profiles reflect your festive mood, consider the following suggestions to inspire others to get into the holiday spirit.
The 12 Days of Kindness Challenge
The English Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” inspired this suggestion, a “12 Days of Kindness” challenge. Starting 12 days before Christmas, or whenever you want, commit to doing one act of kindness daily. It could be paying for someone’s coffee, leaving a heartfelt note for a neighbour, donating to a local charity, or dropping off baked goods at a senior home. Post pictures of each act on your social media channels with the hashtag #12DaysOfKindness. Encourage your followers and tag your friends to do the same, thereby creating a chain reaction of goodwill that spreads far beyond your immediate circle.
Support Local Charities with a Virtual Fundraiser
Use your social media clout to raise money for a local charity by hosting a virtual fundraiser. Invite your followers and friends to join you in a fun activity, like a virtual trivia night or bake-off. Promote donations to a charity of your choice and share updates on the progress. In addition to building community spirit, promoting local causes demonstrates the power of collective action.
Random Acts of Kindness Bingo
Create a bingo card, which you can use Canva to create, filled with random acts of kindness, such as “compliment a stranger,” “donate clothes,” or “help a neighbour.” Once created, post the card on your social media and invite others to join you in completing the challenges throughout the month. As you check off your squares, share photos or stories of your experiences, tagging friends and followers to keep the momentum going. The visual aspect of a bingo card makes it fun and engaging, encouraging participation.
Gratitude and Kindness Posts
Incorporate gratitude into your kindness initiatives by encouraging your followers to share posts about something they’re thankful for and how they plan to pay it forward. Use a specific hashtag, like #ThankfulAndKind, to unify these posts. As people share their gratitude and commitment to kindness, you’ll create a powerful positivity narrative that inspires others to reflect on their lives and actions.
Acts of Kindness Story Swap
Engage your audience by hosting a ‘kindness story swap.’ Invite your followers to share their stories of kindness—either acts they’ve done or experiences they’ve had. Create a specific day for these stories and use a designated hashtag like #KindnessSwap. By facilitating the sharing of stories and uplifting your followers, you’ll be connecting people and building a sense of community, which is what social media should be used for.
Kindness Challenge Videos
Challenge your followers to create short videos showcasing their acts of kindness. This could include anything from helping a neighbour with groceries to volunteering at a local shelter. Encourage them to tag you and others in their posts using a hashtag like #KindnessChallenge. Sharing video content is an effective way to spread your message while inspiring others to get involved.
Holiday Cards for Seniors
During the holidays, seniors living in retirement homes often feel isolated. Initiate a “Holiday Cards for Seniors” campaign by encouraging your followers to create and send handmade holiday cards to local retirement homes. List several local retirement homes on your social media and encourage your followers to share photos of their card-making. This simple act will not only brighten someone’s day but also foster cross-generational connections.
Kindness knows no boundaries. In addition to spreading joy, social media offers a powerful tool to foster community and encourage acts of kindness. No matter how small, each act of kindness contributes to a larger narrative of compassion, which the world desperately needs more of. Imagine the joy on a senior’s face when they receive a holiday card or the warmth in a neighbour’s heart when they receive a compliment. Creating and hosting these kindness challenges and sharing your acts of kindness experiences—giving and receiving—will enrich your life and strengthen your community.
This December let’s embrace the spirit of kindness—online and offline. Your social media feeds can become a gallery of kindness, with posts and shares illustrating the joys of doing acts of kindness, making this holiday season a time of connection, generosity, and lasting impact.
HACHINOHE, Japan – Ivanie Blondin helped Canada to a team sprint gold medal before picking up an individual bronze Friday as Canada opened the long-track speedskating season with three medals at the ISU Four Continents championships.
Ottawa’s Blondin combined with Carolina Hiller of Prince George, B.C., and Béatrice Lamarche of Quebec City to win the women’s team sprint in a track record time of one minute 27.87 seconds.
Lamarche used the slingshot technique to launch Blondin into the final lap, which helped the trio maintain their speed. While the move worked, Lamarche said it could be improved.
“The slingshot move felt better yesterday in practice, but it was not at high speed. Maybe we looked smooth, but I personally felt weird and rushed throughout the entire process,” Lamarche said. “I’m excited to try it again during the World Cup in China because I think it can be better.”
South Korea was 1.39 seconds off the pace for silver, while Kazakhstan was 2.49 seconds back of the winners to take bronze.
Later, the 34-year-old Blondin took bronze in the women’s 1,500 metres with a time of 1:57.99.
Japan’s Miho Takagi (1:54.86) and China’s Mei Han (1:56.53) took gold and silver, respectively.
“I feel pretty good about my 1,500,” Blondin said. “I was not able to warm down following the team sprint as we went straight to the medal ceremony. By the time that was over I had to put my skin suit on and get back on the ice.”
“I didn’t have the pop that I normally would — but midway through the race I realized things were going well and my legs were actually feeling pretty decent,” she added. “I was happy with the end time.”
Canada reached the podium for a third time as Anders Johnson of Burnaby, B.C., Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., and Yankun Zhao of Calgary, Alta., finished third in the men’s team sprint.
The United States (1:19.43) and China (1:19.78) finished ahead of Canada, the defending world champion and world record holder in the discipline.
“I think it was a good race for us,” Johnson said. “It was a new setup for our team today and we executed well and skated well. We’re happy with the result and excited to see what comes in the future.”
The championships continue Saturday with Blondin, Dubreuil, Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen, Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., and Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann looking to add to Canada’s medal total.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
“BENCH STRENGTH: JUDGING A CENTURY OF TAX AVOIDANCE IN CANADA” A Groundbreaking Investigation by Kerry Harnish
Toronto, ON – Sutherland House Experts announces the upcoming release of “Bench Strength: Judging a Century of Tax Avoidance in Canada” by Kerry Harnish, a former senior official with Finance Canada. This authoritative work offers a stunning exploration of the Supreme Court of Canada’s approach to income tax avoidance over the past century, challenging our understanding of how the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has affected tax rulings and reshaped both corporate and individual finances.
Key Findings:
• Pre-Charter: Supreme Court denied tax avoidance in 83% of cases
• Post-Charter: Court allowed tax avoidance in 73% of disputes
This surprising shift raises crucial questions about individual rights, money, obligations, and the unintended consequences of the Charter era. Harnish’s investigation reveals how judicial interpretations in the Charter era have often favoured high-income taxpayers who can afford sophisticated planning to avoid paying taxes, leaving a hole in government finances for average Canadian taxpayers to fill.
“Bench Strength” is essential reading for:
• Tax professionals
• Legal scholars
• Public policy professionals
• Anyone interested in Canadian fiscal policy
• Every Canadian taxpayer
“Bench Strength” masterfully bridges theory and practice, combining academic rigour with practical gems for readers. It provides historical anecdotes and personal backgrounds of judges that give context to their decisions, while maintaining depth for tax professionals, making it relevant for non-specialists, scholars and tax practitioners alike.
Endorsements of Bench Strength by Kerry Harnish:
“Bench Strength is a fascinating book, and a must-read for anyone concerned about tax avoidance in Canada.” Allan Lanthier, former senior partner of Ernst & Young and rated as Canada’s leading tax adviser
“This book should be mandatory reading for taxation students and senior practitioners alike.” Kim G.C. Moody, Founder, Moodys Private Client / Moodys Tax
“Bench Strength: Judging a Century of Tax Avoidance in Canada” is now available for pre-order. Be among the first to dive into this fascinating book about entrepreneurs, business dealings, and some of the greatest Canadian legal minds in history.
