Federal government working with airlines and foreign governments to bring Canadians home
Published March 21, 2020 at 4:57 pm
As a number of Canadians continue to be stranded abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government is ramping up its efforts to bring those Canadians home.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today new measures the government is taking, including working with Canadian airlines and foreign governments to provide access to commercial flights for Canadian travellers trying to return home.
“COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving global issue,” Trudeau said. “That is why we are taking these exceptional measures to help Canadian travelers find a way to get home to their families and friends.”
Flights will prioritize stranded travellers who are Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, or immediate family members of Canadian citizens.
Additionally, only travellers who are asymptomatic will be allowed to board, and all travellers will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days upon re-entering the country.
“In the first series of flights to help Canadians return home, Air Canada will operate a special flight today from Morocco. Flights will also be planned for Peru and Spain, and other countries as soon as possible,” the federal government reports.
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“Factors such as the number of Canadians, airspace closures, and the local situation are being taken into consideration in order to identify the locations for these flights.”
The government is continuing to work with Air Canada and other Canadian airlines to ensure that stranded Canadians are offered a reasonable commercial price for their return flight.
All Canadians abroad are encouraged by the governemnt to register with Global Affairs Canada to be provided with updates as soon as they become available.
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