QUESTION PERIOD — Transport
COVID-19 Pandemic--Travel Restrictions
June 15, 2022
Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader in the Senate.
Senator Gold, your government’s deputy leader, Chrystia Freeland, testified yesterday that your government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act during the “Freedom Convoy” was made because the convoy was a threat to our economic reputation. Not only does the act not list that as legal grounds for its invocation, but your government doesn’t seem to suffer any such concerns about the mess it has created at Canada’s largest airport, which has been dragging on for two weeks because of your pointless vaccine mandates.
Senator Gold, why is your government continuing to enforce these ridiculous mandates for incoming international travellers?
Thank you for your question. I don’t need to remind the chamber that the government has recently announced the changes to the rules for domestic travellers and has adjusted the measures over time.
It will continue to monitor the issue as it addresses both the security and safety needs of Canadians and others who want to travel to Canada and the health risks that are still present.
Senator Gold, your government doesn’t need to monitor anything. They need to lift these mandates and unleash Canadians so they can get back to work and get our economy and our country going again.
One of the main causes of the delays at the Toronto Pearson Airport is the doubling of processing times for inbound international travellers because of your vaccine mandates, including the use of the ineffective and unreliable ArriveCAN app.
Senator Gold, when will your government do the right thing for Canada’s economic reputation and drop the vaccine mandates for all travellers? How much longer will travellers be forced to use this ridiculous app?
Thank you for your question. The government, as I have stated on many occasions, will continue to monitor the efficacy of the various tools, mandates and the like that are, unfortunately, in place because of the pandemic. The focus has been and will continue to be on the health and safety of Canadians.
