"I am pleased to announce that on June 20, our government will suspend the requirement to be vaccinated to board a plane or train in Canada," Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said during a meeting. of a press conference.
He justified this decision by the high rate of vaccination and a drop in contamination in a country which has already largely lifted the restrictions put in place since 2020 to fight the pandemic.
Since October, in Canada, it was impossible to take the plane or the train without being vaccinated.
This obligation could, however, be reinstated if the contaminations start to rise again, said Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Transport.
Travelers entering Canada must continue to provide proof of vaccination.
The Minister of Transport stressed that the United States, a popular destination for Canadians, always required proof of vaccination.
According to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, this lifting should not immediately reduce waiting times to leave Canadian airports.
Long lines and slow passport issuance have sparked anger in recent weeks as many Canadians want to start traveling again after two years of pandemic restrictions.
“Our government will continue to evaluate these measures and will not hesitate to make further adjustments based on public health studies and science,” he added.
Almost 90% of the population aged 12 and over have received two doses of the vaccine, and half have additionally received a booster, according to government figures.
© 2022 AFP