AT A GLANCE
EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service
Author: Issam Hallak, Members' Research Service
PE 649.392 – April 2020
EN
Canada: Coronavirus movement
restrictions and quarantine
Like many other countries around the world, Canada has introduced restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread
of Covid-19 in the country. Federal and provincial governments have taken measures to limit international and
domestic travel. Canada has prohibited entry to foreign nationals, with a few exemptions. Some provinces and
territories have prohibited entry to non-residents and/or imposed self-quarantine on travellers.
Measures taken at the federal level
The Quarantine Act, enacted in 2005 in the aftermath of the SARS outbreak, seeks 'to protect public health
by taking comprehensive measures to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases'. It
gives power to the Governor in Council to 'make an order prohibiting or subjecting to any condition the
entry into Canada of any class of persons who have been in a foreign country or a specified part of a foreign
country' (Art. 58(1)). The act also authorises the Minister of Health to establish quarantine stations and
quarantine facilities anywhere, and to designate various officers, including quarantine, health, and
screening officers (Art. 5 to 7).
Several Orders in Council (OIC) were enacted to prohibit entry into Canada by foreign nationals.
On 18 March 2020, OIC 2020-0157 prohibited the entry of any foreign nationals from abroad by means of
aircraft. On 26 March 2020, OIC 2020-0184 prohibited foreign nationals from entering Canada if they arrive
from a foreign country other than the United States of America (USA). The OIC 2020-0185 extended this
prohibition to foreign nationals coming from the USA if they exhibit symptoms of Covid-19 infection
(Art. 2(1)), travel for tourism or recreation purposes (Art. 2(3)), or if they have been outside the USA and
Canada in the previous 14 days (Art. 4(1)). Provided travellers have no Covid-19 symptoms, the prohibition
does not apply to permanent residents, immediate family members, travellers who have only travelled
within the USA or Canada in the previous 14 days, and essential service workers. Employers are requested
to conduct active daily monitoring of their staff for Covid-19 symptoms (cough, fever or shortness of
breath).
Travellers returning to Canada without symptoms must quarantine (self-isolate) for 14 days; those with
symptoms may still enter Canada by land, rail or sea, but not by air, and they must isolate without delay for
14 days (see box). Violating any instructions is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to
penalties of up to six months in prison and/or CAD750 000 in fines. On 14 April 2020, amendments to the
Contraventions Act came into force, providing police with increased flexibility to enforce the Quarantine
Act. Police forces can now issue fines ranging from to CAD275 to CAD1 000 to people not complying with
the act.
Travellers without symptoms must quarantine (self-isolate). They must go directly to the place of quarantine
without delay and stay there for 14 days. They may use public or private transportation, without making
unnecessary stops and must practice physical (social) distancing at all times. At the place of quarantine, they
must stay inside and not leave for 14 days, unless they need to seek medical attention; they must stay in a
separate room and use a separate bathroom from others, if possible. Visitors are not allowed; provision of
essential supplies (grocery and medication) must be arranged.
Travellers with symptoms must isolate. They must go directly to the place of isolation without delay and stay
there for 14 days. They must use private transportation only. Travellers must wear an appropriate mask or
facial covering while in transit and avoid contact with others, remaining in their vehicle as much as possible;
and staying at a hotel is not permitted. Travellers should not have contact with vulnerable people (65 years
or older, or with underlying medical conditions). The location of the quarantine must be a suitable place of
isolation that provides the necessities of life. In self-isolation, people must practice physical distancing at all
times.
EPRS Canada: Coronavirus movement restrictions and quarantine
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Travel within Canada
As of 30 March 2020, all passengers flying within Canada
have been subject to a health check prior to
boarding. Travellers will not be permitted to board if they show any symptoms of Covid-19 infection, have
been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to Covid-19, or are subject to a
provincial or local public health order. People showing symptoms of Covid-19 infection will not be allowed
to board any flight, including connecting flights, before 14 days have passed, unless they present a medical
certificate confirming that the symptoms are not related to Covid-19. People with symptoms consistent
with Covid-19 must use private transportation to travel to the place where they will isolate.
Measures taken by provinces and territories
Canada is a federal state composed of ten provinces – Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Newfoundland and
Labrador – and three territories – Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. Public health crisis
management is governed at the provincial and territorial levels by Public Health Acts (or their equivalent).
Quebec is the Canadian province most affected by the coronavirus crisis, Montreal and Laval experiencing
the largest number of cases. The provincial government did not impose a general prohibition on travel,
although it advised people to avoid all non-essential travel. Nevertheless, access to 19 areas is prohibited,
unless for essential reasons or work; checkpoints have been deployed around these areas. Prohibited areas
include, among others, Ville de Gatineau, Quebec's fourth-largest town, facing the capital Ottawa, and the
far northern region of Nunavik, which is in a lockdown assisted by the Canadian Armed Forces.
Four provinces have imposed neither inter- nor intra-province travel restrictions in addition to those
enacted by the national Government, namely Alberta, British Colombia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan (which
recommended self-monitoring).
Five provinces require all people to self-isolate for 14 days, except for essential service workers and flight
crews: Prince Edward Island ('anyone coming into Prince Edward Island must self-isolate for 14 days
following all out of province travel, including within Canada and the US'), Newfoundland and Labrador,
Nova Scotia (self-isolation rules), New Brunswick (self-isolation rules), Manitoba (travel information and self-
isolation rules and checkpoints at highways and airports to inform travellers).
Three territories have implemented more stringent rules. Yukon advises against non-essential travel and
requires travellers entering the territory
to observe self-quarantine. Checkpoints
are present at borders, and anyone
entering Yukon will need to check in
with an enforcement officer and fill out
an information card that may be verified
at any time during their stay.
Northwest Territories (NWT) has
prohibited all incoming travel – both by
air and road, with a few exemptions,
such as residents, import/export and
supply chain transportation workers,
flight crew members, and essential
services workers.
Nunavut introduced an entry ban for all
travellers except for certain categories
such as residents and essential workers.
All residents returning must self-
quarantine before entering the territory.
Figure 1: Travel restrictions inside Canada
Source: EPRS.
