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Transport Canada suspends flights from Mexico and Caribbean countries

Last week, Canada announced new restrictions for international travellers arriving in Canada.

As of Sunday Jan. 31, all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries have been suspended until April 30, 2021.

Also effective this week starting Feb. 3. at 11:59pm, scheduled international commercial passenger flights will only be arriving into four designated Canadian airports: Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport.

“The new restrictions will include scheduled commercial passenger flights arriving from the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, which were exempted from the previous restriction,” according to the release from Transport Canada. “Private/Business and charter flights from all countries will also be required to land at the four airports. Flights from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and cargo-only flights will remain exempt.”

The Western Labour Agriculture Initiative (WALI) in B.C. says they’re working to assess the impacts of these new policies on worker travel. On Jan. 29, the association released a statement confirming that they were in contact with Areoméxico and Mi Tierra on the status of charter and commercial flights.

Testing requirements

Travellers are still required to produce negative results from a COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of arrival into Canada.“The government of Mexico is working with local labs in Mexico to improve accessibility to tests for SAWP workers,” says WALI.

Transport Canada also announced new requirements for travellers upon arrival. This includes staying in a federally approved hotel for three nights and taking a COVID-19 molecular test – both at their own cost. More details will be announced as they’re available, and it is not yet certain how this affects arriving workers.