Maple News reports that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated the country may soon ease more of its travel restrictions, citing accelerated vaccination efforts as a key factor. Speaking at a press conference on June 22, Trudeau stated that the timeline for reopening was rapidly approaching, saying, ‘We’re talking about weeks and not months anymore.’
The Prime Minister emphasized that any decision to further reopen Canada’s borders would be based on a combination of factors, including national vaccination rates, the presence of COVID-19 variants, and international transmission trends. “We certainly hope to have more good news about reopenings in the coming weeks,” Trudeau said, while urging continued caution.
As of June 21, fully vaccinated travellers who are already exempt from current entry bans may now enter Canada without the need to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine. However, the updated policy does not apply to individuals who have only received a single dose after recovering from COVID-19—a classification considered ‘fully vaccinated’ in certain provinces like Quebec.
Trudeau noted that health officials are reviewing the status of partially vaccinated or previously infected individuals but said the federal government is not yet ready to revise its definitions. An official update on these cases is expected in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair reiterated that the Canadian government aims for at least 75% of the population to be fully vaccinated before fully reopening the border. He suggested that more comprehensive lifting of restrictions could coincide with the next review date, which is set for July 21—the day current border measures are set to expire.
The Prime Minister cautioned against moving too quickly. While full vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, it does not entirely prevent virus transmission. “Nobody wants to see new restrictions brought in during the summer because the volumes were too high or because we were a little too rushed,” he warned.
Maple News will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as Canada’s border policies evolve with the public health landscape.