Effective January 7, those seeking to fly to Canada will be required to present to the airline a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test, in order to be allowed to board. The test must have been taken no more than 72 hours before scheduled departure. Further details can be found at https://bit.ly/3bhHPSG.
This new requirement is in addition to any other COVID-related requirements including the need to secure authorization to travel, the need to present a quarantine plan through the ArriveCan app (see https://bit.ly/2JPAAWN), and the need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. (Note though the pilot program in Alberta which allows testing on arrival, and then again 6 or 7 days later, so that the 14 days is shortened. See https://bit.ly/395zyyx).
Note further that the government is indeed increasing surveillance – and auditing many employers – and that there are significant penalties for violations of quarantine requirements, including imprisonment and fines.
As such, travelers must of course be aware of this, as must their employers, in an employment situation.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.