Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada's federal
government has periodically waived certain rules normally
applicable to the transportation of COVID-19 test samples, which
qualify as dangerous goods and are therefore subject to the
requirements of the federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Act, 1992 (the “TDG Act“). That waiver
has just been reintroduced as of May 30, 2022, and is set to remain
in force for one year.
Section 31(2.1) of the TDG Act authorizes Transport
Canada to issue what is known as a “temporary
certificate,” thereby allowing any activity to be carried on
in a manner that would normally violate the provisions of the
TDG Act, if it is deemed to be in the “public
interest” to do so.