Source: Transport Canada
30.07.2020
COVID-19 measures, updates, and guidance for road issued by Transport Canada
General information and news releases
Guidance for road industry
- Federal Guidance for School Bus Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic, May 29, 2020
- Joint Guidance Document Transport Canada and CSA D250 School Bus Technical Committee, May 29, 2020
- Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety: Practices for the Use of Masks, Face Coverings and Gloves for Transportation Workers and Passengers in the Road Transportation System (PDF, 344 KB), June 2, 2020
- Guidance poster: Face coverings for intercommunity bus, and motor carrier passengers (PDF, 248 KB), April 24, 2020
- Guidance: Considerations Relating to the Use of Face Coverings by Commercial Vehicle Drivers and Motor Carrier, and Intercommunity Bus Passengers, April 17, 2020
- Employment confirmation – essential transportation worker, April 8, 2020
- Federal safety guidance to protect drivers and limit the spread of COVID-19 in commercial vehicle operations, April 2, 2020
Other COVID-19 related resources
- Information on Mandatory Self-Isolation for Individuals Entering Canada
- Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
- News releases from the Prime Minister of Canada
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Canada’s response
- Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19 (legislative and other measures)
Detailed information
Aviation
Guidance, exemptions, safety alerts and bulletins for the air industry during the COVID-19 pandemic
Marine Transportation
Guidance, interim orders and ship safety bulletins for the marine industry during the COVID-19 pandemic
Road Transportation
Guidance for the road industry during the COVID-19 pandemic
Rail Transportation
Guidance, orders and temporary exemptions for the rail industry during the COVID-19 pandemic
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Temporary certificates and transporting requirements for transporting dangerous goods during the COVID-19 pandemic
Source: Transport Canada
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28.07.2020
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Current border measures and requirements
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is committed to the safety and security of Canadians. This section offers resources and information about how we continue to facilitate the flow of legitimate travel and trade during the current global pandemic.
Most requested
- Entry restrictions
- Students and temporary workers
- Returning to Canada New
- Open NEXUS ports of entry
- Border wait times
Services and information
Canadians and permanent residents
Travel restrictions, border measures, enforcing the Quarantine Act.
Non-Canadians
Entry restrictions and exemptions, border services and more.
Business
Customs notices and changes for importers and exporters, open ports of entry.
Changes to travel-related programs and services
NEXUS/FAST enrollment centres and lane closures, processing delays, reduction of services.
Open ports of entry
Certain air, marine and land borders are temporarily closed.
Contact us
Source: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/covid/menu-eng.html
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11.06.2020
COVID-19 information for the transportation industry
Information for the transportation industry
Pandemics cannot be stopped by one level of government alone. They know no border and do not respect provincial/territorial lines. In a country like Canada, where responsibilities are divided, collaboration between all levels of government is key.
The Government of Canada is working with provinces, territories, industry, and communities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the transportation industry and communities.
In early June, the Minister of Transport introduced new measures for the use of face coverings in the Canadian transportation sector.
Many transportation workers are essential to deliver goods and get people from point A to point B. Public Safety Canada has developed Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic, which identifies essential workers in transportation. Each province and territory also has its own list of essential workers or businesses in transportation.
Aviation
Air operations in Canada
Canada is the world’s third-largest aviation market, with 18 million km2 of airspace managed by NAV CANADA. In 2018, 6.5 million aircraft movements took place at airports, 3.7 million of which were made by airlines. General aviation companies made the other 2.8 million, which were itinerant and local (other commercial, private and government).
Managing the onboarding process
Transport Canada issued guidance for managing air travellers, including managing the onboarding process for flights departing from a Canadian aerodrome, U.S. transborder airports and international airports.
More information
- Aviation measures taken in response to COVID-19
- Guidance for air operators and crew members and for managing ill persons aboard an aircraft.
- Guidance to help employees determine when to wear face coverings at work.
Marine
Marine operations in Canada
The marine transportation sector provides a vital service to all Canadians in ensuring the safe movement of goods (food, medicine, supplies to health care sector, and other essential products) and people. It is also important for resupply and as a transportation link, playing a vital role for coastal and island communities.
Commercial shipping vessels and at ports
Canada’s ports play a key role in the economy and international trade. The marine transportation sectors on the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic coasts are prepared for the higher risks posed by COVID-19.
We have created a poster [PDF] and a guide [PDF] showing how the marine community can keep employees safe, while moving goods safely and efficiently through our ports.
We have also introduced these measures for marine industry workers:
- Extension of Certification period of marine personnel certificates due to COVID-19.
- Mobility of asymptomatic workers in the marine sector, which includes:
- crew change;
- shore leave for seafarers, and
- exemption from self-isolation requirements
In addition, guidance is included to help employees determine when to wear face coverings at work.
If a ship heading to Canada has a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19
Read the Special Marine Security Notification Bulletin 2020-007 on COVID-19, which explains the responsibilities in these cases.
Also read WHO Operational Considerations for Managing COVID-19 Cases/Outbreak on Board Ships
Working at Transport Canada-owned public ports
Please see the list of public ports owned by Transport Canada. Public ports are following the guidance of their local health authorities.
Canada Port Authorities
Canada’s Port Authorities have also put measures in place. Please check with them for any procedures they put in place. Refer to the guide on keeping marine workers safe at ports [PDF].
Ferries and passenger vessels
We have introduced measures for cruise ships and other passenger vessels that:
- prohibit cruise ships with overnight accommodations allowed to carry more than 100 persons are from operating in Canadian waters
- require all other passenger vessels to follow provincial, territorial, local and regional health authority requirements for timelines and processes to resume operations
- prohibit non-essential activities such as tourism or recreation on commercial vessels that have a capacity of more than twelve passengers
- prohibit or restrict vessels with the capacity to carry more than 12 passengers from entering or operating in certain Arctic coastal waters
More information
- Marine measures taken in response to COVID-19
- Guidance for ferries and essential passenger vessel operators.
Rail
Railway operations in Canada
Canada’s rail operations help sustain nearly every part of the Canadian economy, including our manufacturing, agricultural, natural resource, wholesale and retail sectors, transit, and tourism.
The passenger rail sector provides commuter, intercity and tourist transportation services. Passenger rail is either federally or provincially regulated.
Freight and passenger railway companies
Transport Canada has provided railway companies under federal jurisdiction guidance on face covering for when physical distancing cannot be maintained or when local authorities require it. We strongly recommend that companies:
- make sure that workers have or have access to a personal face covering
- use a risk-based approach to decide which workers should wear the face covering, or when local authorities require it.
More information
- Rail measures taken in response to COVID-19
- Guidance around Managing the Onboarding Process for federally-regulated Intercity passenger rail.
Road
Road operations in Canada
Road transportation is the dominant mode for moving both freight and passengers across Canada. Trucking is the primary form of freight transportation. Our country is linked from the Pacific to Atlantic coasts by a network of connecting highways anchored by the Trans-Canada Highway. Canada also has extensive road networks across its southern, more populated areas.
Keeping commercial drivers safe
Truck drivers move all of the essential products Canadians depend on, including all the medical and sanitation supplies to combat the spread of this virus. They also move emergency relief and food products, as well as materials used to manufacture and process essential goods, the fuels that move them, and a multitude of other items the supply chain depends on.
As an essential service, the trucking industry knows it’s being counted on to make sure that goods are being safely transported. In line with this, the Canadian Trucking Alliance has issued a Resource Document for the Canadian Trucking Industry [PDF].
Transport Canada, in collaboration with PHAC and Employment and Social Development Canada, developed guidance to protect drivers and employees working in commercial vehicle operations: Federal safety guidance to protect drivers and limit the spread of COVID-19 in commercial vehicle operations.
To help commercial vehicle drivers to choose and correctly use different types of personal protective equipment (PPE), we’ve also issued a guidance document: Personal Protective Equipment and their Use by Commercial Drivers
More information
- Road measures taken in response to COVID-19
- guidance to help employees determine when to wear face coverings at work.
Source: WCO/Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
31.03.2020
The annex provides an example of communication material that the CBSA is using to share information with its commercial and industry stakeholders during this time.
Source:WCO/Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
31.03.2020
The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, prompting Canada to implement the following responsive measures:
On March 16, 2020, Canada announced new restrictions to ban the entry of foreign nationals by air travel from all countries except the US. Canada also issued a customs notice for the relief of duty and tax for imported goods required for an emergency by Canadian health care centres and emergency responders.
On March 19, 2020, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) began providing a 45 business days grace period for imported goods requiring account declarations. The CBSA is suspending late accounting penalties released on minimum documentation from the period of 11 March to 14 May 2020. This grace period will be reviewed as the situation evolves.
On 20 March 2020, Canada further announced restrictions to prohibit the entry of foreign nationals into Canada if they arrive from a foreign country other than the United States.
On 20 March 2020, in collaboration with our U.S. partners, as a part of Canada’s effort toprevent the spread of COVID-19 while safeguarding global supply chain continuity, Canada announced that, effective 21 March 2020, persons providing essential commercial services while in Canada (ex. truck drivers) as part of the global supply chain may enter Canada if they do not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms. Persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are prohibited from entering Canada. Non-essential travel, including tourism, has also been prohibited.
On 27 March 2020, Canada began allowing businesses to defer payments of the Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax amounts collected on their sales, as well as customs duties owing to their imports until 30 June 2020. Importers must still submit accounting declarations within the required timelines.
While these important initiatives will serve to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada is particularly mindful of the need to maintain coordinated regional and international action to ensure the integrity of global trade supply chains.
The US-Canada land border serves as an economic engine that supports over $1.7 billion (USD) dollars in daily cross-border trade. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Canada are temporarily restricting all non-essential travel across its borders. In each of our countries, we are encouraging people to exercise caution by avoiding unnecessary contact with others. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that prudent approach.
“Non-essential” travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
The United States and Canada recognize it is critical we preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border. Supply chains, including trucking, will not be impacted by this new measure. Americans and Canadians also cross the land border every day to do essential work or for other urgent or essential reasons, and that travel will not be impacted.
This decision will be implemented on March 21, 2020, at which time the US and Canada will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the US-Canada land border. The measure will be in place for 30 days, at which point it will be reviewed by both parties.