Trudeau: Canada looking to ease travel for families

Kareem El-Assal
Published: May 31, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada is exploring easing travel restrictions that currently prevent some individuals from crossing the U.S. border to enter Canada to reunite with their family.

Trudeau made the remarks during his daily coronavirus briefing to the Canadian public on Friday May 29.

The Canada-U.S. border was first closed to non-essential travel effective Saturday March 20th by mutual agreement as both countries sought to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The travel restrictions were initially put in place for 30 days, but have since been extended on two occasions, including most recently on May 20th. 

Among those exempt from the travel restrictions include essential workers, and immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as long as said family members are travelling to Canada for non-discretionary purposes.

Immediate family members have been defined as spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, grandchildren, parents, step-parents, guardians, and tutors.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has been provided guidelines on how to define non-discretionary travel.

CBSA is turning away immediate family from entering Canada if it deems the purpose of the trip to be non-essential.

During his remarks, Trudeau recognized the challenging nature of the restrictions for families and said he was hoping to seek a resolution.

However, he noted that easing travel restrictions is cause for concern among Canada's provinces, who he has been consulting with on this matter.

In fact, Trudeau noted that this issue was brought up as recently as the evening of Thursday May 28 when he spoke with provincial premiers.

According to the Prime Minister, some premiers expressed openness to easing travel rules for families on grounds of compassion, while other premiers felt that doing so could make efforts to contain COVID-19 more challenging.

Trudeau concluded by saying that the federal and provincial governments will continue to explore this topic while keeping the safety and security of Canadians at the forefront of the ultimate decision that is taken.

Canada has had special immigration, visa, and travel measures in place since the middle of March.

Learn more about Canadian family sponsorship

Need assistance with the Temporary Work Permit application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com.

© 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec invite candidates to apply for provincial immigration
Beach on Haida Gwaii
Saskatchewan introduces two new PNP pathways for skilled newcomers
Bridge over river in Saskatoon
Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba invite candidates to apply for provincial nomination
Fraser River in British Columbia
Visitors no longer allowed to apply for work permits from within Canada
A Canadian work permit
Top Stories
IRCC’s application backlog shows steady increase over the summer
New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot: Who are the employers and what positions do they hire for?
Express Entry: 1,613 candidates invited in draw for PNP candidates
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Express Entry
Express Entry: 1,613 candidates invited in draw for PNP candidates
Rural road with fall foliage
October 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people walking through a popular square in Canada.
How many ITAs has Canada issued through Express Entry this year vs. last year?
A view of a mountain through fall leaves.
IRCC issues 4,000 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates in latest Express Entry draw
A view of a river in Canada during a summer day, with kayaks and canoes making their way through.
Link copied to clipboard