The federal government today announced some steps to reduce some significant wait times at some Canadian airports.
One major move is to suspend Mandatory randomized testing for COVID-19 at all airports between Saturday, June 11 and Thursday, June 30, 2022, excluding unvaccinated travellers.
The Trudeau government is not removing testing, though! From July 1st, all testing, including those for unvaccinated travellers, will be performed off-site.
All travellers will still be required to submit their mandatory information via ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website), including proof of vaccination in English or French before coming to the airport.
Additionally, the government says it will continue to hire more Canadian Air Transport Security Authority screening officers.
According to the news release, 865 CATSA screening officers have been hired across Canada since last April. CBSA is also maximizing officer availability and additional Student Border Services Officers are now at work.
The government says the Public Health Agency of Canada is adding additional staff on select days at airports to verify that travellers have completed their ArriveCAN submissions on arrival and further inform air travellers about the importance of the mandatory requirements.
Today morning, the United States announced that it will drop pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements for air travellers starting Sunday, June 12, 12:01 a.m. ET.