Soon, passengers coming into Toronto Pearson International Airport (Pearson Airport) will no longer be required to provide vaccination proof or wear a face mask.
The federal government stated on Monday that all COVID-19-related entry restrictions under the Quarantine Act would be lifted at the end of the month.
As on October 1, foreign nationals will no longer be needed to provide vaccination documentation in order to enter the country, and returning unvaccinated Canadians will no longer be forced to be quarantined.
At the international airport, incoming passengers will no longer be required to undergo random COVID-19 testing. The submission of public health information via the ArriveCan app will be voluntary, and face masks will no longer be required at airports or on flights.
The Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA), which oversees operations at Toronto Pearson airport, was happy with the decision and expressed the expectation that it would “guarantee that Canada regains its internationally competitive status as a tourist center.”
“Our company suffered extraordinary difficulties during the epidemic as a result of the tight health controls and regulations that hindered operations,” a spokesman for the industry, Michelle Silva, said.
“Toronto Pearson and its industry partners remain committed to enhancing the passenger experience at airports, and we look forward to collaborating with our government partners to address systemic challenges in the air sector, such as labour shortages, modernization of border processes, and the immediate reopening of the Nexus enrollment centre.”
Silva noted that although it is too early to tell how these changes would affect the overall experience at Pearson airport, she feels the elimination of the ArriveCAN app will be the most significant change. She said that this might lead to a speedier customs procedure.
Throughout the summer, Toronto Pearson Airport passengers complained about lengthy queues, misplaced luggage, and flight delays.
The annual customer satisfaction study conducted by J.D. Power and published last week ranked Pearson among the five worst big airports in North America. This was determined based on variables like terminal amenities, airport arrival and departure, baggage claim, and security checks.
Both the GTAA and the Mississauga Board of Trade have long advocated for an end to COVID-19 border procedures, stating that the additional safeguards slowed down operations due to personnel shortages and severely harmed local companies.
Trevor McPherson, president and chief executive officer of the Mississauga Board of Trade, expressed his satisfaction with the removal of Canada’s COVID -19 travel restrictions.
“The worldwide community has acknowledged that the epidemic has entered a new phase,” he said in a statement. “We are thus delighted that Canada’s travel health rules will now align with those of the international community.”
“As we go ahead, it is essential that any new pandemic-related measures be based on the most recent scientific findings, and that ineffectual requirements that pose considerable obstacles for people, enterprises, and foreign tourists be avoided at all costs.”
