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Canadians have always taken unfettered inter-provincial travel for granted but that’s all starting to change in light of the continuing spread of the coronavirus. In a push to slow the growth of the pandemic, many provincial governments have started to limit provincial domestic travel. Some provinces have even taken extreme steps to impose self-quarantines or severely restrict travel even for Canadian travelers. Here’s a rundown of what each province and territory is doing in Canada to limit domestic travel.
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Quebec
On Wednesday, April 1, the Quebec government effectively divided Canada’s Capital Region by placing checkpoints on the border between Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. The Quebec government says that the checkpoints are intended to prevent all non-essential travel into the province. According to a press release from the Gatineau police service “in order to reduce the propagation of COVID-19, Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) officers are being deployed to strategic entry points to restrict travel to only essential purposes.”
At the checkpoints, the police say they will “… assess on a case by case basis whether or not the travel is essential, for instance to get to work if teleworking is not an option; for medical appointments or care; or for humanitarian reasons.”
The press release also notes that fines will be imposed for those who do not obey: “Although the SPVG prefers an approach based on community persuasion, its officers are prepared to turn to more coercive measures with people who refuse to cooperate. Fines may be imposed on people who refuse to cooperate. Under the Public Health Act, the police have the option of imposing fines ranging from $1,000 to $6,000. The police maintain their usual powers, and charges laid during an intervention will have the same legal consequences (i.e. criminal offense).” For more information, visit the website here.
To block all non-essential travel into the province, the Quebec government has also set up checkpoints on major roads leading to more remote areas of Quebec, as well as at the Quebec-U.S. border.
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Ontario
As of yet, Ontario has not imposed any inter-provincial travel restrictions. For more information, check out the Ontario Government website.
Manitoba
Manitoba is advising any domestic travelers entering the province to self-isolate for 14 days. The province is also establishing checkpoints at main highways and airports to provide guidance about COVID-19 to travelers. Read more here and here.
Saskatchewan
Currently the province has no domestic travel restrictions. The government does recommend that people self-monitor for symptoms if they have traveled outside of Saskatchewan, but within Canada. More information here and here.
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Alberta
No inter-provincial domestic travel restrictions. More info here.
British Columbia
No inter-provincial domestic travel restrictions. More info here.
Yukon
All travelers entering the territory must self-quarantine. According to the website, “All visitors to the territory are required to self-isolate for 14 days. This includes anyone returning home from other provinces and territories by road or air, as well as Yukoners returning home by road from Alaska. We are putting mechanisms in place to monitor and ensure travelers are self-isolating.” Yukon is also advising against non-essential travel. For more information, visit this site.
North West Territories
All travel into the territory by non-residents is now prohibited with a few exceptions (such as those transporting essential goods and essential service workers). More information is available on the website.
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 01: A man sits under an Air Canada logo
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Nunavut
All passenger flights in and out of Nunavik, as well as inter-community flights, have been grounded. According to the press release, “the only flights allowed are charters transporting cargo (including medical supplies and Canada Post), patients traveling for medical appointments, health care workers and other critical workers such as police officers.” More information is available here (see the April 2 press release) and here.
Prince Edward Island
The provincial website states that “anyone coming into Prince Edward Island must self-isolate for 14 days following all out of province travel, including within Canada and the US.” Exceptions include essential service workers and flight crews. Read more here and here.
Newfoundland and Labrador
All travelers entering the province must self-isolate for 14 days. More information here.
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Nova Scotia
Anyone entering Nova Scotia must self-isolate for 14 days. Find out more details here and here.
New Brunswick
As of March 15, 2020, anyone entering the province (aside from some exceptions like essential workers) must self-isolate for 14 days. More information is available here and here.
