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Why can Canadians still fly to the U.S.? It's not up to Canada – CTV News

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TORONTO —
As Canada and the U.S. move to extend the border closure by another month, there are still concerns about how many people may be arriving in the country by air.

Although Canadians are not permitted to drive to the U.S. for leisure travel, they can still fly to the country.

Ambarish Chandra, an associate professor of economics at the University of Toronto, told CTVNews.ca that this has “always been the case” since the start of the pandemic.

“The government never closed down travel by air, but there’s still restrictions. You can’t just hop on a plane and fly to Canada. You’re going to be asked when you enter what the purpose of a trip and in principle, you could be turned back and denied,” Chandra explained in a phone interview on Wednesday.

Chandra said the border measures focus more on restricting the type of travel that is allowed, rather than the mode of transportation. Tourists and cross-border visits remain prohibited, but essential travel for trade and commerce is still permitted, by land and air.

However, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection says Canadian air passengers can still enter the country as long as they haven’t visited Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, the U.K. or countries in the Schengen Area for 14 days prior.

Depending on which state they are entering, they may not even have to self-isolate upon arrival. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that international travellers quarantine, but it is not a requirement unless specified by a state.

However, the permission to fly is not mutual.

Canada prohibits U.S. visitors, except those with immediate family in Canada, from entering the country by all modes of transportation, including by plane.

The border restrictions apply specifically to land crossings because these entry points are less challenging to control and monitor, according to Chandra.

“The policy from the start was to stop all non-essential travel. That’s much easier to do by land. and it’s also much more practical because most travel over the land border is actually non-essential,” Chandra said.

“People cross the border both ways to shop or just to go on short vacations, which is harder to do and requires a lot more planning to do when you’re doing it by air.”

Despite the restrictions, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) saying many people are still trying to enter Canada from the United States for sightseeing and shopping.

Between March 22 and Sept. 2, the CBSA said it has turned away more than 18,000 travellers for non-essential reasons. This includes foreign nationals by boat, land, and air from the U.S.

When Canadians return home from abroad by land or air, they are still required to self-isolate for 14 days as per federal guidelines. Chandra said the border restrictions help enforce this.

“The rules that are in place [are] to stop foreign travellers from making non-essential trips to Canada, but also to intercept Canadians returning and get them to quarantine and self-isolate, which is still the policy in place,” Chandra said.

A spokesperson for the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness told CTVNews.ca on Wednesday that the federal government has “brought forward significant restrictions at” the Canada-U.S. border and will continue “doing what is necessary to keep Canadians safe.”

“Going forward, we will continue to evaluate the best public health information available to us to make a decision on when and how to reopen our border. This decision will be made in Canada, with the best interest of Canadians as our top priority,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Senior government sources tell CTV News that Canada and the U.S. are expected to extend existing border restrictions until November. The current agreement was set to expire on Sept. 21 but sources say the restrictions will remain in place until it is felt that the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

The travel ban was first imposed in March and has been renewed every month since.

The federal government says it will continue to adjust border restrictions as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, but Chandra said it won’t stop Canadians from travelling.

“Canada can never stop citizens from leaving the country, and of course citizens are allowed to come back by definition… and while they may feel more comfortable travelling now, there’s still policies in place they have to follow,” he said.

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Quick Quotes: What Liberal MPs have to say as the caucus debates Trudeau’s future

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OTTAWA – Here are some notable quotes from Liberal members of Parliament as they headed into a caucus meeting Wednesday where they are set to debate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

Comments made after the caucus meeting:

“The Liberal party is strong and united.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

———

“Justin Trudeau is reflecting and he’s standing strong and we’re standing strong as a Liberal party.”

“We as a party recognize that the real threat here is Pierre Poilievre and that’s what we’re fighting for.”

“Trudeau has made very clear that he feels he’s the right choice but he appreciates all of what is being said because he’s reflecting on what is being done across Canada. I respect his decision, whatever that may be.”

Charles Sousa, MP for Mississauga—Lakeshore

———

“We had some open and frank discussions. People are relentlessly focused on serving Canadians and win the next election. This was really a rallying call to win the next election.”

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, MP for Saint Maurice—Champlain

———

“I don’t know how many people spoke, well over 50 I’m sure. They came at this from all angles and now (we’ve) got to go back and process this.

“We’re on a good path.

“It was very respectful. You know, caucus has always had the ability to get into some tough conversations. We did it again today and it went extremely well. Where we land? Who knows? You know we have to go and really process this stuff. But one thing that is absolutely, you know, fundamental is that we are united in the fact that we cannot let that creature from the Conservative party run the country. He would ruin things that people greatly value.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

Comments from before the caucus meeting:

“There’s a — what would you call it? Some palace drama going on right now. And that takes us away from the number 1 job, which is focusing on Canadians and focusing on the important policies but also on showing the really clear contrast between our government, our party and Pierre Poilievre.”

Randy Boissonnault, Employment Minister, MP for Edmonton Centre

———

“We’re going to go in there and we’re going to have an excellent discussion and we are going to emerge united.”

Treasury Board President and Transport Minister Anita Anand, MP for Oakville

———

“I think caucus is nervous because of the polling that has been constantly going down in favour of Liberals, and there’s a lot of people who do want to run again. I’m not running again, although I already told the prime minister that. But there are people there that want to run again and they’re nervous because of what polls are saying.”

“He has to start listening.”

Ken McDonald, MP for Avalon

———

“We’re going to have a good caucus meeting. MPs should be free to air their perspectives, I’m sure they will, and we’ll come out of it united.”

Peter Fragiskatos, MP for London North Centre

———

“I have to read the room. There’s all sorts of wheels within wheels turning right now. I’m just going to go in there, I’m going to make my mind a blank and just soak it all in.”

“I’m not going to say anything about (the prime minister) until I have my say in there.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

“I wish there was a mechanism for it, yes,” he said, responding to whether he wanted a secret ballot vote in caucus to determine Trudeau’s leadership.

Sean Casey, MP for Charlottetown

———

“The prime minister will always be on my posters and he is welcome in Winnipeg North any time.”

Kevin Lamoureux, MP for Winnipeg North

———

“Absolutely I support the prime minister.”

Yvonne Jones, MP for Labrador

———

“When you look divided, you look weak.”

Judy Sgro, MP for Humber River—Black Creek

———

“I think Pierre Poilievre is absolutely beatable, he’s ripe for the picking with the right vision, the right leadership and the right direction for our party. The Liberal party is an institution in this country. It’s bigger than one person, one leader, and it’s incumbent on us as elected officials to make sure we put the best foot forward.”

Wayne Long, MP for Saint John—Rothesay

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.



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With Liberal election win, First Nations in N.B. look forward to improved relations

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FREDERICTON – Chief Allan Polchies says he is excited about New Brunswick’s new Liberal provincial government.

Polchies, of St. Mary’s First Nation, says he looks forward to meaningful dialogue with premier-designate Susan Holt after years of tense relations with the outgoing Progressive Conservatives under Blaine Higgs.

He is one of six Wolastoqey Nation chiefs who have filed a land claim for a significant part of the province, arguing treaty rights have not been respected by corporations and governments, both of which have exploited the land for hundreds of years.

The December 2021 court challenge has been a sore point between Indigenous Peoples and the Higgs’s government.

Eight Mi’kmaw communities are also asserting Aboriginal title to land in the province, and they say they hope to work with Holt and her team on “advancing issues that are important to our communities.”

Holt’s campaign didn’t give details on the Liberal government’s position on the Indigenous claims, but she has said she wants to rebuild trust between the province and First Nations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Abdelrazik tells of despair when Ottawa denied him passport to return home from Sudan

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OTTAWA – Abousfian Abdelrazik told a court today about the roller-coaster of emotions he experienced during the tense days of early 2009 when he awaited the green light to return to Canada from Sudan.

The Sudanese-born Abdelrazik settled in Montreal as a refugee and became a Canadian citizen in 1995.

During a 2003 visit to his native country to see his ailing mother, he was arrested, imprisoned and questioned about suspected terrorist connections.

Abdelrazik says he was tortured during two periods of detention by the Sudanese intelligence agency.

He is suing the federal government, claiming officials arranged for his arbitrary imprisonment, encouraged his detention by Sudanese authorities and actively obstructed his repatriation to Canada for several years.

In March 2009, he made arrangements to fly home to Canada and asked Ottawa to issue him an emergency passport, but his hopes were dashed — at least temporarily — when the request was turned down.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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