After the federal government announced that it would be lifting some restrictions on international travel as of 01JUL, we know a lot more about how Canadians can travel abroad.
Provinces and territories have begun to release their reopening plans as vaccination rates are increasing steadily, and case numbers are dropping consistently across the country.
Here's what travel advisors hoping to book clients on trips within Canada this summer need to know.
Where is Inter-Provincial Travel Permitted?
Provinces are not all created equal in the post-pandemic travel scene, and they currently have different restrictions in place based on who can visit where.
Canadians who’ve had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to visit New Brunswick without the need to isolate. Travellers who haven’t had a shot will still be able to visit, but will first have to isolate and produce a negative test before being released from quarantine.
Elsewhere in the ‘Atlantic Bubble,’ only travellers who are from the east coast can travel to other Atlantic provinces without quarantining as long as they have had at least one dose of a vaccine. Newfoundland and Labrador will require Atlantic Canadian travellers to fill out a travel form before their arrival and show ID upon entering to prove they are a resident of the Atlantic region.
Ontario opened its borders with Quebec and Manitoba as of 16JUN, and no longer requires an essential reason to travel across the provincial borders, or for travellers to quarantine upon arrival.
Two provinces that will be open to Canadian tourism in the near future are Alberta and Quebec, with Alberta dropping most restrictions and opening on 01JUL, and Quebec announcing Tuesday that it would be fully opening at the end of this week on 25JUN.
Advisors with clients looking to take a west coast vacation will have to book further into the future. Although recreational travel within British Columbia is currently allowed, the province is asking travellers from other provinces to delay their travel plans until more people have had their vaccines.
Non-essential travel outside Canada’s far-north territories is not recommended, and leisure travel to the territories is not permitted. There is no date set for when this will change.
What Activities Are Available?
Foodie travel clients will be looking to see where they can get a bite to eat on their travels. Many provinces have begun to allow indoor dining, including Nova Scotia and Quebec at full capacity, but with each table limited to ten people; New Brunswick at full capacity, but with contact tracing; PEI with up to 20 tables; and Saskatchewan at full capacity, with barriers. British Columbia currently allows restaurants to operate at full capacity, but with each table limited to six people; and as of 01JUL, restaurants in Alberta will be able to operate at full capacity as well, with no restrictions in place.
For Canadians who are looking to travel to attend a summer concert or festival, there are some options. In Nova Scotia, festivals and similar events may take place at a quarter of the venue’s capacity with a maximum of 50 people indoors and up to 75 people outdoors with social distancing. That may not accommodate many out-of-town visitors, let alone out-of-province ones.
Quebec’s restrictions are much looser – the province has increased the number of people that are allowed to attend outdoor sporting events and festivals to 3,500.
In Alberta, outdoor public gatherings, such as concerts and festivals, are allowed with up to 150 people in attendance. Canadians who have always wanted to experience the Calgary Stampede are in luck – the event will take place from 09 to 18JUL, with certain restrictions including advanced booking, social distancing, and enhanced cleaning procedures.
When Ontario’s next phase of reopening is reached on 01JUL, outdoor performances will be able to take place and amusement parks will also be permitted to operate.
That includes Canada’s Wonderland, just north of Toronto, which is set to officially open at limited capacity on 07JUL. Wonderland is introducing a new online reservation system as well as a health screening and temperature check upon entering the park. All guests above the age of two will be required to wear a mask or face covering.
Are Masks Still Required?
The option to not have to wear a mask influences clients’ travel experience - and decisions to travel at all. Mask mandates are being dropped in some provinces including Alberta and Saskatchewan on 01JUL and 11JUL, respectively. On 18JUL, PEI’s non-medical mask requirement will also be lifted. As of 25JUN, those in private homes in Quebec with both vaccine doses can gather without wearing masks.
The rest of the provinces will still require masks to be worn in public areas, and do not have set dates for their removal, as they depend on vaccination rates and case numbers.
