The holiday travel season is officially underway, but before you embark on your highly anticipated trip, it’s important to take note of travel advisories issued by the Canadian government.
Global Affairs Canada says it analyzes trends and incidents affecting international travellers, monitors world events and collects updated reports from different sources to come up with its travel advice and advisories. They are available online at travel.gc.ca.
Patricia Marques, a travel industry expert and managing director of retail and travel call centres for CAA North & East Ontario, said she always recommends that people visit the website before they book a trip.
“The Canadian government issues those travel advisories to make sure that Canadians make informed decisions so they travel safely,” Marques told CTVNews.ca in a recent interview.
WHERE ADVISORIES ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE
The guidance warns Canadians to exercise caution in certain places due to risks like crime, the threat of terrorism and unstable political conditions and to avoid some places altogether.
Some destinations also include regional advisories, meaning the risk level for travellers depends on a specific region of a given destination.
Currently, there are 21 destinations that are categorized as destinations where Canadians should “avoid all travel.” They include Russia, Ukraine, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Syria and Venezuela.
For example, travellers are advised to avoid all travel to Venezuela due to the “significant level of violent crime, the unstable political and economic situations and the decline in basic living conditions, including shortages of medication, gasoline and water.”
The travel advisory also notes the security environment is “volatile” at the border between Venezuela and Guyana due to an ongoing territorial dispute over the Guayana Esequiba region. The Canadian government is recommending that people do not discuss the dispute and to monitor local media to stay informed on the evolving situation.
There are nine destinations where Canadians are advised to “avoid non-essential travel.” Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are some of those destinations.
In Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for instance, officials say there are varying levels of risk depending on the region “due to the ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation.”
People are advised to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, avoid all travel to the parts of the Golan Heights that border Syria, east of Highway 98, and to avoid all travel within five kilometres of the border with Egypt, Lebanon and large parts of the West Bank.
Meanwhile, there are 92 destinations where Canadians are advised to “exercise a high degree of caution.” France, Egypt, China, Thailand, Brazil, Vietnam and Cuba are among those listed.
In addition to minding safety risks, it’s worth noting that travel insurance will not cover you if you’re going somewhere where a travel advisory is in place, Marques said.
“It’s the most important thing that anybody can pack,” she said.
“Whether you’re doing a road trip, or flying somewhere abroad, medical insurance is just essential because the cost of medical treatment abroad is quite a lot more than what we pay of course here in our system.”
Marques recommends emergency medical travel insurance to not just those travelling abroad, but also people travelling within Canada since certain kinds of treatment may be covered in one province or territory, but not elsewhere in the country.
If you’re unclear about what measures you should be taking before going to a specific destination, she also recommends using a certified travel consultant “who really knows the ins and outs.”
Another international travel tip to keep in mind? Make sure to register with Global Affairs Canada, Marques said, even if you’re going to the United States or a Caribbean island, to let them know where you’re going to be in case of an emergency or a conflict or natural disaster breaks out.
Marques stressed the importance of putting in time and energy to be thoroughly prepared for any trip.
“There’s so many things and wonderful destinations that are out there, but be aware of where you’re travelling, do the research before you go, make sure you have travel insurance to cover you.”
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
EDMONTON – The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday that assistant general manager Brad Holland is leaving the club.
The move comes almost three months after the departure of former Oilers general manager Ken Holland, Brad’s father.
Oilers chief executive officer and president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson said in a statement that Brad Holland and the team parted ways so Holland could “explore other opportunities.”
Holland, 43, joined the Oilers as a scout in 2019. He was promoted to assistant GM in July 2022.
He had a hand in building the team that advanced to Game 7 of the 2023-24 Stanley Cup final before losing to the Florida Panthers.
The Oilers hired former Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman to replace Ken Holland on July 1.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are placing Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the move. Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least four games with the designation.
He was hurt in the third quarter of a Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills on a play where he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. He ran for a first down and then initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding.
Players from both teams immediately motioned that Tagovailoa was hurt, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some signs typically associated with a traumatic brain injury. He remained down on the field for a couple of minutes, got to his feet and walked to the sideline.
Tagovailoa this week began the process of consulting neurologists about his health. He was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022 and one while in college at Alabama.
