Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen provides updates and answers to your questions regarding the federal government's measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic. He welcomes your questions at [email protected]
Will the 2020 tax deadline be extended?
- Our government will announce changes for the upcoming tax season later this week.
What measures are being taken to stop the spread of COVID-19?
Effective March 18, 2020, for air travel, we will:
- Deny entry to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. This measure will carve out some designated exceptions for aircrews, diplomats, U.S. citizens.
- Limit international passenger flight arrivals to four airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, and Calgary International Airport.
- Mandate air operators to prevent all travellers who present symptoms of COVID-19 to board a plane. This means that anyone who has symptoms will not be able to come to Canada.
- Domestic flights, as well as flights from the United States, sun destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean, and St. Pierre-et-Miquelon are not affected by this measure and can continue to operate on their current routes.
- The travel restrictions announced will not apply to commerce or trade. We will continue to ensure the supply of important goods to Canada.
- Canadian travellers will be able to get financial assistance to help them with the costs of returning home or temporarily covering their basic needs while they wait to come back to Canada, through the Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad.
How do I access the Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad?
- Canadians may access up to $5,000 as part of an emergency loan program through Global Affairs Canada.
- This fund will help people who need immediate financial assistance to return home, or cover their needs if they have to wait to come back. Canadians abroad in need of emergency assistance can always call 1-613-996-8885, or email [email protected]
Can we still cross the border by car or will the land border close? We were planning to return home on X date, should we return home immediately? How will the latest advisory affect my travel insurance?
- The Canadian border remains open and in the event that changes are made, Canadian nationals and Permanent Residents will still be able to return home to Canada.
- The government’s advice to Canadians abroad, in all countries, is to return home now via commercial means while they still remain available.
- We encourage Canadians to clearly understand their personal insurance policies and if they have questions to directly contact their insurance providers or their local MPP for further information on provincial policies.
We were planning to return home from X on Y date, should we return sooner?
- Yes, we recommend that Canadian travellers return to Canada via commercial means while they remain available
- To limit the spread of COVID-19, many countries have put in place travel or border restrictions and other measures such as movement restrictions and quarantines.
- Airlines have cancelled flights and may do so with little warning. Travel plans may be severely disrupted and travellers may be forced to remain outside of Canada longer than expected.
- Canadians outside of Canada should register in the Registry of Canadians Abroad to receive important updates (https://travel.gc.ca/
travelling/registration) and check the entry and exit requirements of the countries through which they may be transiting. - Canadians requiring emergency consular assistance may call the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted where available) or send an email to: [email protected].
We had planned to travel to X on Y date, when will we know if we should cancel?
- · Global Affairs Canada has issued an official global travel advisory for Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice.
