Updated June 9, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
My website is https://lisaparentcovid-19.ca
Who is dealing with post Covid-19 at home?
While our Prime Minister plays on the International stage his minions at home seem to be clueless in this post pandemic period. Yes the virus is still around. Yes there could be another variant. Yes it is prudent to be personally prudent. Yes this virus will be endemic. Yes we will have resurgence every so often just like the flu. No we do not need to keep the heavy restrictions in place any longer. In fact, one has to wonder how many of the mandates were really based on pseudo science rather than real science.
Provinces have lifted most of the mandates on their citizens but the Federal Government continues with its sky is falling approach to this virus.
For instance, let’s look at the policies regarding travel.
Arrive Canada
Our government continues to require the use of Arrive Canada while other countries do not. When we are vaccinated as Canadians there is a database record of those vaccinations yet we are required to reenter our proof of vaccination into Arrive Canada before returning home. They have had two years to integrate the vaccination data with Border Services yet we must suffer for their inept efforts. What if someone doesn’t have a smartphone or computer?
ArriveCAN continues to be mandatory for all travellers to Canada. It is also required to qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption from quarantine and testing. If you don’t submit your travel information and proof of vaccination using ArriveCAN you could be fined $5,000.
No smartphone or short trip? You still need to enter your information and submit in ArriveCAN up to 72 hours before your arrival in Canada or before a short trip outside Canada. Sign in to ArriveCAN from a computer to get your ArriveCAN receipt. Print your receipt and take it with you when you travel. You can also have someone submit your travel information on your behalf.
https://travel.gc.ca
People entering by land who haven’t completed ArriveCAN and obtained their receipt will be informed by a Border Services Officer of the requirements to submit their information through ArriveCAN. You may be allowed to provide information on entry if
-there’s no history of previous ArriveCAN non-compliance,
– (if it’s operationally feasible) or choose to return to the U.S. to complete your submission and re-enter (note, if you’re a foreign national, you must return to the U.S. to complete your submission)
If you don’t provide your information through ArriveCAN, you may be subject to
– quarantine,
– Arrival and Day-8 testing and possible enforcement for non-compliance including potential fines of $5,000 per infraction (plus applicable provincial surcharges)
https://travel.gc.ca
The response that one must have someone submit the travel information on ones behalf is again nothing but intimidation. Within 72 hours of travel and far from home one may not have anyone to do it for them.
It is time to abandon Arrive Canada and let us return to a normal life.
Random Testing
Even though we are fully vaccinated we must still be prepared to randomly submit to testing on arrival. Randomly means that one person out of who knows how many get a random selection. That is stupid and it is nothing more than intimidation tactics since the ones that weren’t selected may be the ones who are positive.
If you’re landing in one of the airports listed below, you may be selected for mandatory random testing. If selected, you’ll be required to get tested before exiting the airport with on-site testing. To speed you through the process, register in advance with the testing provider for the airport you’ll arrive at.
When you arrive at a land border crossing, the border services officer may notify you that you’ve been randomly selected for a mandatory arrival test. If you’re selected, you’ll be given a self-swab kit to complete. You’ll need to follow the instructions in your self-swab kit to complete the test at your destination.
https://travel.gc.ca
To travel we must be fully vaccinated. That was an intimidation requirement in the beginning. Everyone complied thinking that this would make it possible to travel. The majority of Canadians complied. So those that are fully vaccinated should no longer be subjected to the draconian policies that continue in place in this country like random testing. Random testing is not only stupid but it is more intimidation.
Toronto International Airport
Now that you have seen some of the obvious reasons why things must change let’s take a look at Toronto International Airport, Canada’s largest and busiest airport. Frankly the Federal Government who oversee Border Services and international airports in this country is again at fault for the fiasco called Toronto International Airport. Of course Prime Minister Trudeau would never subject his Royal self to the congestion everyone else faces at that airport. No his highness avoids such things while those that pay his salary in Ottawa suffer through the nonsense. Nonsense that will continue until Labour Day because of the ongoing Covid-19 intimidation of travellers.
Extremely long wait times affecting arriving and departing passengers at Toronto’s Pearson airport are likely to continue until Labour Day, a former Air Canada executive said Wednesday.
“Chaos, messy, impossible, difficult,” were the words used by Duncan Dee to describe the situation at Canada’s busiest airport.
“It’s not where you want to be,” Dee told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning.
Over the last two months, travellers at Pearson have faced long lineups, delays and cancellations, which some blame on continuing COVID-19 restrictions and a labour shortage.
Dee says while Canada’s Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra has promised 400 new screening officers starting at the end of June, he doubts that that’s going to make a huge difference.
“In terms of the customs delays, until the pandemic-era inspections are changed, I hate to think that this is something that’s going to plague us through the entire summer,” Dee said.
“Things should get a little bit easier for those travelling after Labour Day. Unfortunately, that’s also when schools get back so families won’t be able to travel as much.”
Desmond Brown · CBC News · Posted: Jun 08, 2022 1:55 PM ET | Last Updated: 6 hours ago – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-pearson-airport-delays-1.6481605
Arrivals
Some international passengers are experiencing longer than expected wait times upon arrival. This is due in part to longer processing times at the border. Prior to the pandemic, it took an average of 15-30 seconds for a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer to clear an international arriving passenger. Due to the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 health screening questions, this has increased the processing time at Canada’s borders by two to four times.
As a result, when flights arrive during late afternoon or evening peak periods — times of the day when a large number of flights arrive close together — passengers may need to be held on their aircraft or in designated waiting areas inside the terminals and slowly metered into the customs hall.
Once in the customs hall, you will be screened by a CBSA officer, where you will present your documents and may be asked to show your ArriveCAN app submission. All travellers arriving in Canada must continue to use ArriveCAN to submit mandatory travel and health information. To save time, passengers can use the Advanced CBSA Declaration feature within ArriveCAN online to fill in their customs and immigration declaration. This can be done up to 72 hours in advance of flying to save time when arriving at the airport.
Travellers arriving to Canada from any country, who qualify as fully vaccinated, may be randomly selected for COVID-19 testing upon arrival at the airport. Travellers selected will not be required to quarantine while awaiting their test result.
At Toronto Pearson, arrivals testing is available at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, administered by the Government of Canada.
For more information or to provide feedback on the Government of Canada’s international arrivals requirements, please contact 1-844-280-5080 or hcinfo.infosc@canada.ca.
https://www.torontopearson.com/en/notices/passengers-should-expect-delays
Okay so a passenger arrives at our busiest airport looking to visit or return to our beautiful city of Toronto and other parts of our country. First, they are subjected to long lineups and congestion at the airport which by the way is a perfect way to spread covid-19. Second, they may be selected for a random test (yes random test even if fully vaccinated) after waiting in a congested terminal. A random test that does nothing to curb a possible person getting into the country who might be positive.
Departures
Now let us turn to those trying to leave the country. That’s right it’s not just reserved for those who are entering Canada at this airport but hours of delays just to get out.
For departing domestic passengers, we ask that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours in advance of your flight. For departing international passengers, please arrive at least 3 hours in advance.
To make your experience easier, you can check-in online from home to speed the process, then use one of our touchless kiosks in the check-in lobby if you have bags to drop-off. At the time of check-in, you should be prepared for extra questions and document requirements from your airline. Be sure to confirm with your airline what the specific requirements are for your destination.
https://www.torontopearson.com/en/notices/passengers-should-expect-delays
Conclusion
So get there 3 hours in advance just to hang out with the rest of the minions. This is beyond the pale. It has been going on for two months. The Transport Minister has announced they have hired several hundred untrained workers that will need to be trained just yesterday. This government could care less about Canada and Canadians. They are making us and themselves into a joke around the world while our Prime Minister fiddles around just like an emperor once did in Rome while it burned.
It is time to let the citizens of this country make their own health decisions and remove the draconian measures that belong in China not Canada.
Enough is Enough!
Some useful links
https://www.flightstats.com/v2/airport-conditions/YYZ
https://www.torontopearson.com/en/notices/passengers-should-expect-delays