If you’ve been following this space for a while, then you know I married a Canadian in 2012 (here are our wedding photos). Prior to the pandemic, we traveled to Toronto at least four times a year to see family and friends. The border has now been closed for 18 months and we kept thinking we would go the day they finally opened it up to Americans, without requiring quarantine.
That day is coming in just over a week, on August 9 (here’s what you need to know), but sadly we’re not going. Here’s why:
1. The Delta variant
Without a doubt, the Delta variant has put a kibosh on our summer plans. Once the pandemic started, we waited over a year to travel as a family by air and our first flight (LAX-JFK) was in early June to see family in Connecticut. Here’s my trip report. We had a fantastic trip and we were so relieved that our daughter did so well on her first ever plane ride that we started booking more flights. But unfortunately, the Delta variant started spreading like wildfire so we canceled our plans. One of our many trips was supposed to be to Toronto but it’s not going to happen since we have two little unvaccinated kids.
2. Canadian airports will be a zoo
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and other major Canadian airports are going to be packed on August 9 and for the first couple weeks afterwards, with family, friends and colleagues ready to reconnect after so many months apart. I recently wrote that if you thought the LHR airport arrivals scene in the hit movie Love Actually was emotional, wait until the day the US/Canadian border opens. However, YYZ and others are going to be a zoo. There are already reports saying that passengers complain of overcrowding and utter chaos at Toronto’s Pearson airport. YYZ is getting progressively busier, much to the dismay of those eager to get away from Toronto for the first time in many months.
3. Canadian Customs and Border Services set to strike
If YYZ wasn’t bad enough on a normal day, it could be much worse, starting on August 6. That’s because, according to Travel Industry Today, “more than 8,500 unionized staff with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have given their union an overwhelming strike mandate, throwing into question the federal government’s plans for a smooth reopening of the Canada-US border this summer as a federal election looms. CBSA employees could potentially begin strike action.” If this strike happens, watch out and it’s all Canadian airports not just YYZ.
4. Toronto Pearson Airport scraps decision to separate arrivals by vaccination status
No one wants to be jam-packed in slow immigration lines at any time but especially not during a pandemic. Toronto Pearson announced last week that they had started to separate vaccinated and partially/non vaccinated travelers in customs lines, which was a great idea. But unfortunately, they scrapped the idea and a statement from the airport read: “As such, the practice will be ceased as of July 26, 2021, with entry requirements based on vaccination status being enforced once a passenger reaches CSBA.” (via CTV News)
5. It’s going to be expensive
Just like the USA, Canada is requiring all travelers entering Canada to produce a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. It’s similar to the United States’ plan, except Canada’s requires a PCR test, which costs a lot more than an antigen test. It could cost well over $100 per person to get tested and then you have to worry about the test coming back positive. You can’t leave right away so you will need to let the virus run its course while in a foreign country. Not fun.
Listen, no one wants to go to Canada more than my wife but she says she’s not putting our kids at risk. I want to go too, and especially after watching some clips from last night’s Blue Jays vs Kansas City Royals game. The game made me want to go even more. It was the first game they’d played in Toronto in 670 days!
How about you? Are you going to Canada soon?
It is beyond ridiculous that the borders are opening now to international travellers ( not that they were ever closed in the first place. Visitors have been coming by the plane load all along. Govt lies saying borders were closed). As cases surge worldwide due to delta, espcially in the US, trudeau NOW decides to fling the doors wide open? Meanwhile Tam sits there ominously warning of the coming 4th wave that will be caused by opening things up. Hello? Your buddy trudeau is driving the 4th wave train. And everyone except trudeau knows a good chunk of negative tests from travellers (especially from certain parts of the world) are all faked, as will the professional of vaccinations. And negative tests mean squat. Another 14 covid flights this week. The borders are not being flung open in Canada because it is safe to do so, they are opening because an election is looming, and trudeau needs to buy all the votes he can.
Rediclous article, when it comes to Covid Canada has always been far better prepared.
The Delta varient is running rampant in the US!
Canada does NOT need you crossing the border, stay there… we are just fine without you!
Better prepared? Canada begged the USA to develop and share the vaccine with them. Where would the county be now without it?
The Liberals were giving away thousands of our vaccines to poor nation’s letting us Canadians suffer.
Johnny Jet…. Yeah that seems like a trustworthy name of someone people should take advice from. Your entire bit is about Toronto airport. That’s not Canada idiot. We actually have quite a large land mass with a number of fairly well known cities and landscapes worth checking out. But if you are a self absorbed , ignorant urbanite than maybe you should stick to Toronto. Or better yet just stay in whatever overpopulated cesspool you come from Johnny. FU
I live in Canada. Bunch of whiney babies here now.
Im Canadian and live in Us but youre right they think they are all saints lol
I guess since 100 percent are vaccinated they feel the right to act that way.
I read alot on twitter and if I didnt know better theyd have me believe the prisons are empty.
Why do you live in USA
It’s really simple, don’t come here, you aren’t wanted anyways. Forget covid-19, it’s the insanity that America invokes in its own people to slaughter each other in the streets. Think of the violent insanity that occurred in the states with the BLM movement based on a dude who held a gun to a black babies head as he forced his way into a fellow black woman’s house to rob her (the baby was in the womb still). George Floyd was a garbage waste of skin, bottom feeding gutter trash. The violence down there is like a contagion of its own. You protest violence with violence….. It’s…… So incredibly American. Of course you all want to come to Canada. Nicer people, less people, nicer land, Cleaner air, cleaner rivers, it’s more peaceful, it’s just better. We have our issues, it’s definitely not perfect, we owe our indigenous more partnership in this country, our politics have become divisive but i say this as one of millions of first generation Canadians who come from families who chose this country above all others.
Get a life. If Canada is superior to the USA why does every Canadian celebrity CHOOSE to live in America instead? You’re just jealous and always will be.
Canadian actors and actresses move to the states because that’s were the work is
Now, Now Randy, keep your hair on. You’re assuming them people down below have evolved with the rest of the world. They have no clue how infectious their anarchy is.
Please tell all your countrymen your opinions and convince them not to come here too. We don’t need you, we don’t want you. We have enough problems up here without your specific brand of hillbilly bullshit making it worse. Please, don’t get vaccinated, attend large indoor gatherings with other likeminded Patriots, then kiss one other and go to a crowded Florida waterpark. Perhaps you could catch a Trump rally in Texas instead of flying into Pearson? While you’re there, visit some old folk’s homes and talk about the American Flag and how it protects you from viral infections. My favourite part of the pandemic has been watching Americans die. That may sound harsh, but it’s true. You fucking morons deserve everything you get.
Someone as dumb as you shouldn’t call other people morons. Did you get through middle school?
That’s a friendly Canadian for you. Canada wouldn’t exist without the US…cretin.
As a Canadian, please stay in the US.
Highly agree
Canadian citizen flew to Buffalo 16 days ago just got home from the US through rainbow bridge state side walked across as long as you do the arrive can website have your neg covid test n proof double vacs you be fine. There is a pharmacy in falls NY has test back in 20 mins specialize in covid tests for diff countries. They were great had no issues.
Our vaccination rates are higher than the USA so until you get your people in line please stay away we don’t want you here.
Stay south of the border until the States gets a grip on being civilized. You need to deal with your yellow known and all his grifters.
You’re an absolute clown.
This writer is a simpleton and a complete idiot. While I have no problem that covid exist that he make it run his life is everything that is wrong with people in this world……lots of other ways to get sick and die beside covid. Choosing to stay home and shake in his boots could be one of them.