Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated today during his daily COVID-19 update that Canada and the U.S. had come to an agreement to further extend the border closure to non-essential travel by another 30 days. The mutual agreement, initially put in place in March and extended in April, was set to expire May 21, 2020, but has now been extended until June 21, 2020.
Supply chains, including trucking, are not impacted by this measure and the movement of commercial goods across the border is unaffected. “Non-essential” travel pertains to travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
On March 26, 2020, the Government of Canada put in place mandatory 14-day self-isolation for all persons entering Canada, even if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. This 14-day self-isolation does not pertain to trans-border truck drivers, the full exceptions are:
Exceptions
Consequently, an exception to the order to self-isolate for 14 days is being provided to workers who are essential to the movement of goods and people. For example, this exemption would apply to:
- healthy workers in the trade and transportation sector who are important for the movement of goods and people across the border, such as truck drivers and crew on any plane, train or marine vessel crossing the border; or
- healthy people who have to cross the border to go to work, including health care providers and critical infrastructure workers.
For more information, please call Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs at (905) 882-4880, ext. 1213.
