Councillor anxious to get home from Mexico

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 20, 2020.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

City councillor Phil Turnbull is one of thousands of Canadians anxiously awaiting a trip home from overseas.

This week the Canadian government announced new travel restrictions to help stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and commercial airlines have announced major changes to scheduling. That left thousands of Canadians who were out of the country scrambling to get back.

“It is what it is, but we’re anxious to get home,” said Turnbull, who is expecting to board a flight today to Canada from Mexico where he was vacationing with his wife, Marion.

“The travel agent called us last week and said, ‘We’d better get you guys home,'” said Turnbull in a phone conversation with the News on Thursday. “Tomorrow (Friday) was the earliest we could get a flight.”

Turnbull, who is in his 70s, said he will fully comply with health officials orders to remain isolated for two weeks upon his return.

The councillor and chair of the city utilities committee said he is also anxious to work by telephone to discern the city’s response to the pandemic crisis.

Turnbull missed this week’s council meeting on Monday – just as restrictions and government actions ramped up – but the absence was officially described as a previous engagement.

The vacation resort were the Turnbulls are staying is also showing signs of strain – people are staying in their rooms and trying to arrange or awaiting passage home.

“There’s a lot of people here trying to get out and back home,” he said. “Where we are, there’s not a soul on the beach, no one’s out, the shops and restaurants are all empty. The only thing you can get is ordering (food) in.”

Sources tell the News that local travel agents have seen a steep increase in interaction with clients and others seeking help to find transportation and navigate quickly changing restrictions on cross-border travel.

A statement by Alberta Motor Association president Don Smitten said “the closure of borders in Canada and around the world is unprecedented.

“From the very beginning, our travel agents have been working tirelessly to reach out to affected customers, prioritizing those with immediate departures and those trying to get home from abroad. The volume has been significant.”

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