The rules regarding Canada’s land and air borders
experienced seismic shifts this week. The Government issued an
Interim Order1 that came into force at
noon on Wednesday, March 18th that restricted foreign nationals
from travelling to Canada by air, with a foreign national
being defined as a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a
permanent resident. The land border with the United States was then
closed to non-essential travel as of 12:01 AM on Saturday, March
21st.2
Here are some employer-specific takeaways from a week that was
previously unimaginable:
- The restrictions on foreign nationals
travelling to Canada by air were initially met with shock, as
workers and students on valid work and study permits were not
exempted. These restrictions meant that many individuals who make
Canada their home were effectively stranded abroad. That the air
travel restrictions fell during some provincial Spring Breaks
compounded the problem.
