THUNDER BAY -- The rules at the Canada/United States border will begin to loosen on Monday -- but only for travelers already permitted to enter the country.
Foreign tourists, including American residents, will still be kept out.
Starting on July 5, anyone with the right to enter Canada, including citizens, permanent residents and some international students, can skip the mandatory 14-day quarantine, including the three-day stay at a government approved hotel for air travellers, if they are fully vaccinated.
Approved essential workers are also exempt.
Anyone not approved to enter the country on Sunday will still not be permitted to cross the border on Monday.
"If you were unable to come to Canada on July 4 of this year, you can't come in on July 5 — there's been no change to all of the restrictions and the provisions that have been issued on that front," Denis Vinette, CBSA vice-president, travellers branch, told the Canadian Press.
"However, for those that can come to Canada, it's a very cautious, early first step in starting to delay or remove some requirements at the border."
The land border between the two countries has been closed since March 2020, with the closure restrictions in place through at least July 21.
Those permitted to enter Canada may cross into the country at the land border, though the U.S. land border remains closed to most travelers headed south.
Arriving travelers must upload their vaccination documentation for both vaccinations to the ArriveCan app, which can be accessed via the Apple or Android app stores. They must use the latest version of the app, which will be updated when regulations change. They must also present a negative test taken within the past 72 hours and will be subject to a second test at the border.
Those who have not been vaccinated, including children 11 and younger, will still be subject to the current quarantine rules.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other public health officials have indicated they will consider loosening more restrictions at the border once the adult population of Canada has been 75 per cent doubly vaccinated. According to the Canadian Vaccine Tracker, 77 per cent of adults have had one shot, while 38.9 per cent are considered double vaccinated.
