Alberta must rely on Health Canada for international travellers landing in another province
By GILLIAN SLADE on May 23, 2020.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade The government has enhanced measures for international arrivals at Alberta airports but is relying on Health Canada to cover Albertans who terminate their international flight in another province and return home on a domestic flight. Particularly for destinations in Europe, many international flights depart from Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. Someone flies from Calgary to Toronto on WestJet and then transfers to another airline and goes on to Europe. On their return journey they clear border control in Toronto and transfer to a domestic flight to continue home to Calgary. They would therefore be a domestic arrival in Calgary rather than international. “In that case, Alberta would be notified of these travellers by the Public Health Agency of Canada,” said Tom McMillan, assistant director communications Alberta Health. Alberta Health officials would then follow up with those travellers after their arrival in Alberta to ensure they are self-isolating and following all the requirements to quarantine for 14 days, said McMillan. A spokesperson at Health Canada says travellers are informed of their responsibilities under the Quarantine Act but there are no details of Health Canada notifying Alberta of travellers returning on a domestic flight after international travel. “Provinces and territories have no direct regulatory or legislative oversight of travellers at the international border as it is under federal jurisdiction. However, they may choose to add on additional screening measures for travellers that are aligned with their own requirements (as has been the case in Alberta with thermal screenings).” The News requested comment from the premier’s office but there was no response. Drew Barnes, MLA Cypress-Medicine Hat, says the steps Alberta is taking are good even if they will not address all international travellers. He hopes the federal government will work with the provinces for a more comprehensive approach. On Wednesday the Alberta government announced “the strongest public health measures in the country for international travellers.” Premier Jason Kenney said Canada has waited too long to close international borders and Alberta has to put its own measures in place. In the first phase of the program international travellers arriving at Calgary and Edmonton’s airports will go through a provincial checkpoint to complete an isolation plan and undergo a thermal scan. They will also be asked how they will travel to their place of isolation for 14 days and their plans for the two-week period. 14-13
