Canadian travel to the US or other countries C-19 What’s up?

[CanuckTravlr]

Canadians, unlike US citizens, may shortly be allowed to travel to the EU and four other European countries in the Schengen zone. It will likely first require Canada to reciprocate by lifting its ban on non-essential, international travellers from the EU. Travel to Ireland and the UK are not covered by this change.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/european-union-travel-list-1.5632422

 

["Roger"]

My wife and I currently have two trips to Europe planned. Obviously, both are in doubt. I had thought that there are some places in Canada that I wouldn't mind going back to. Ooops.

While disappointing to me, I think, given the current conditions in the US, Europe and Canada are doing the right (wise) thing. Best of luck to them.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Canada's Sparrows Are Singing a New Song. You'll Hear it Soon.

Canada’s Sparrows Are Singing a New Song. You’ll Hear It Soon.

Over 20 years, scientists tracked the transformation of the traditional trill of a common bird from western Canada to Ontario.

www.nytimes.com

.


Richard

 

[MULTIZ321]

Canada's Sparrows Are Singing a New Song. You'll Hear it Soon.

Canada’s Sparrows Are Singing a New Song. You’ll Hear It Soon.

Over 20 years, scientists tracked the transformation of the traditional trill of a common bird from western Canada to Ontario.

www.nytimes.com

.


Richard

A 'Viral ' New Bird Song in Canada is Causing Sparrows to Change Their Tune.

A ‘Viral’ New Bird Song in Canada Is Causing Sparrows to Change Their Tune

A new bird song is spreading like wildfire among Canadian white-throated sparrows, at a scale not seen before by scientists.

gizmodo.com

.


Richard

 

[MULTIZ321]

Most Canadians still want U.S. border to remain closed during coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/coronavirus/article244153132.html

Richard

 

[CanuckTravlr]

That link seems to be broken, Richard.

I can confirm, in talking to family, friends and colleagues here, that the majority sentiment is to keep the border closed for the foreseeable future. One of the largest early contributors to Covid-19 here was American visitors, together with Canadian business travellers and snowbirds returning to Canada from the USA, in February and March.

It has not gone unnoticed (with some bemusement) that the current biggest proponents of reopening the border are the congressmen of certain northern states whose economies depend to some degree on Canadian tourists. Quite the change from just a few months ago when there were certain people demanding that the US put troops along the northern border, since it was considered a "national security threat"!

It's certainly not that we don't like you!! I miss being able to visit with our American friends and family. We would love to have you back again and be able to travel south of the border, too! But we have spent a lot of time, money and effort (plus the sacrificed lives of many elderly and front-line workers) getting things relatively under control here. With the current resurgence in the USA, there is very little appetite to undo that and introduce large numbers of American or other foreign visitors.

We have been fortunate to have had a relatively coordinated and consistent approach that has been embraced at both the national and provincial levels. This has included programmes to help both businesses and people survive the lockdown financially. It seems to have mostly worked, but we are certainly not without issues, especially as it relates to the tourist, restaurant and entertainment sectors. We are just starting to experiment with how to re-open the economy again, while hopefully avoiding a resurgence of Covid-19.

With our much smaller population it would be easy for our system to be overwhelmed by potentially infected foreign visitors. The numbers of Americans that we see claiming that they have a "constitutional right" to not wear masks and exercise proper physical distancing, is also very disconcerting. We do have some of those types here, too, but they tend to get shouted down pretty quickly. Their rights stop when they interfere with someone else's rights to live safely.

Very strange times. I suspect we will be having to face a permanent "new normal", even after things get back to something even close to the "old normal". How we handle the border issue is just one of those things.

 

[MULTIZ321]

That link seems to be broken, Richard.

I can confirm, in talking to family, friends and colleagues here, that the majority sentiment is to keep the border closed for the foreseeable future. One of the largest early contributors to Covid-19 here was American visitors and Canadian snowbirds returning to Canada from the USA in February and March.

It has not gone unnoticed (with some bemusement) that the current biggest proponents of reopening the border are the congressmen of certain northern states whose economies depend to some degree on Canadian tourists. Quite the change from just a few months ago when there were certain people demanding that the US put troops along the northern border, since it was considered a "national security threat"!

It's certainly not that we don't like you!! I miss being able to visit with our American friends and family. We would love to have you back again and be able to travel south of the border, too! But we have spent a lot of time, money and effort (plus the sacrificed lives of many elderly and front-line workers) getting things relatively under control here. With the current resurgence in the USA, there is very little appetite to undo that and introduce large numbers of American or other foreign visitors.

We have been fortunate to have had a relatively coordinated and consistent approach that has been embraced at both the national and provincial level. This has included programmes to help both businesses and people survive the lockdown financially. It seems to have mostly worked, but we are certainly not without issues, especially as it relates to the tourist, restaurant and entertainment sectors. We are just starting to experiment with how to re-open the economy again, while hopefully avoiding a resurgence of Covid-19.

With our much smaller population it would be easy for our system to be overwhelmed by potentially infected foreign visitors. The numbers of Americans that we see claiming that they have a "constitutional right" to not wear masks and exercise proper physical distancing, is also very disconcerting. We do have some of those types here, too, but they tend to get shouted down pretty quickly. Their rights stop when they interfere with someone else's rights to live safely.

Very strange times. I suspect we will be having to face a permanent "new normal", even after things get back to something even close to the "old normal". How we handle the border issue is just one of those things.

I updated the link - see if it works now.

Richard

 

[CanuckTravlr]

I updated the link - see if it works now.

Richard

Yes, thanks, it works now!!

 

[CanuckTravlr]

They just announced the latest extension of the closure of the Canada/US border to non-essential travellers. The border will now remain closed until at least August 21st. This is not unexpected, nor will it be surprising if there are further extensions. The exemptions for immediate family members, announced in June, still apply.

The ban on non-US, non-essential visitors, is currently in place until July 31st. It will not be surprising if that, too, is extended. However, the recent opening up of several European, Caribbean and other countries to Canadians may have some impact on that decision, especially if there are reciprocity arrangements and Covid-19 is mostly under control.

Canada, U.S. agree to keep borders closed another 30 days: sources

Canadian and U.S. officials have agreed to keep the border between the two countries closed to non-essential travel until August 21, CTV News has confirmed.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Retired!]

That link seems to be broken, Richard.

I can confirm, in talking to family, friends and colleagues here, that the majority sentiment is to keep the border closed for the foreseeable future. One of the largest early contributors to Covid-19 here was American visitors, together with Canadian business travellers and snowbirds returning to Canada from the USA, in February and March.

It has not gone unnoticed (with some bemusement) that the current biggest proponents of reopening the border are the congressmen of certain northern states whose economies depend to some degree on Canadian tourists. Quite the change from just a few months ago when there were certain people demanding that the US put troops along the northern border, since it was considered a "national security threat"!

It's certainly not that we don't like you!! I miss being able to visit with our American friends and family. We would love to have you back again and be able to travel south of the border, too! But we have spent a lot of time, money and effort (plus the sacrificed lives of many elderly and front-line workers) getting things relatively under control here. With the current resurgence in the USA, there is very little appetite to undo that and introduce large numbers of American or other foreign visitors.

We have been fortunate to have had a relatively coordinated and consistent approach that has been embraced at both the national and provincial levels. This has included programmes to help both businesses and people survive the lockdown financially. It seems to have mostly worked, but we are certainly not without issues, especially as it relates to the tourist, restaurant and entertainment sectors. We are just starting to experiment with how to re-open the economy again, while hopefully avoiding a resurgence of Covid-19.

With our much smaller population it would be easy for our system to be overwhelmed by potentially infected foreign visitors. The numbers of Americans that we see claiming that they have a "constitutional right" to not wear masks and exercise proper physical distancing, is also very disconcerting. We do have some of those types here, too, but they tend to get shouted down pretty quickly. Their rights stop when they interfere with someone else's rights to live safely.

Very strange times. I suspect we will be having to face a permanent "new normal", even after things get back to something even close to the "old normal". How we handle the border issue is just one of those things.

 

[Retired!]

Canadians indeed are wary of travellers from outside their immediate area. We had to cancel a trip to the Maritime provinces this summer because we are from Ontario and not permitted into the Maritime bubble. We had also planned on travelling to our timeshare in the US later this summer to meet up with our daughter and her family who live in the US, but Air Canada cancelled the direct flight. Our American grandkids are not allowed into Canada under the current definition of family exceptions---so think it will be a long time, unfortunately, before tourists in general will be able to enter Canada easily.

 

[Fredflintstone]

That link seems to be broken, Richard.

I can confirm, in talking to family, friends and colleagues here, that the majority sentiment is to keep the border closed for the foreseeable future. One of the largest early contributors to Covid-19 here was American visitors, together with Canadian business travellers and snowbirds returning to Canada from the USA, in February and March.

It has not gone unnoticed (with some bemusement) that the current biggest proponents of reopening the border are the congressmen of certain northern states whose economies depend to some degree on Canadian tourists. Quite the change from just a few months ago when there were certain people demanding that the US put troops along the northern border, since it was considered a "national security threat"!

It's certainly not that we don't like you!! I miss being able to visit with our American friends and family. We would love to have you back again and be able to travel south of the border, too! But we have spent a lot of time, money and effort (plus the sacrificed lives of many elderly and front-line workers) getting things relatively under control here. With the current resurgence in the USA, there is very little appetite to undo that and introduce large numbers of American or other foreign visitors.

We have been fortunate to have had a relatively coordinated and consistent approach that has been embraced at both the national and provincial levels. This has included programmes to help both businesses and people survive the lockdown financially. It seems to have mostly worked, but we are certainly not without issues, especially as it relates to the tourist, restaurant and entertainment sectors. We are just starting to experiment with how to re-open the economy again, while hopefully avoiding a resurgence of Covid-19.

With our much smaller population it would be easy for our system to be overwhelmed by potentially infected foreign visitors. The numbers of Americans that we see claiming that they have a "constitutional right" to not wear masks and exercise proper physical distancing, is also very disconcerting. We do have some of those types here, too, but they tend to get shouted down pretty quickly. Their rights stop when they interfere with someone else's rights to live safely.

Very strange times. I suspect we will be having to face a permanent "new normal", even after things get back to something even close to the "old normal". How we handle the border issue is just one of those things.

I think you are bang on here. What’s interesting is Americans are being allowed to enter Canada if they say they are enroute to Alaska. However, many have been fined for stating they are enroute to Alaska but found to be camping and hiking in BC and Alberta Parks. Are they going to close that loophole? Well, it’s wait and see.

I don’t see travelling to the US until at least 2021. That’s why I cancelled my December Hawaii trip. Personally, I may not travel out of Canada until we have a vaccine. To me, a vacation does not include masking/gloving up, staying 6 feet away from anyone, quarantining in my room for 2 weeks. I would rather stay home.

What I have sure noticed here is a huge rise of people camping and hiking in the Parks. I drive through Kananaskis Country (west of Calgary, Alberta) the other day and the cars parked on the side of the road to hike were unbelievable.

Although I am getting travel fever, I know waiting is best until the coast is clear. I’ll just keep saving my travel money and be sure to do a long trip once this is all over.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[AJCts411]

I was looking at the border to reopen sooner rather than later both for personal and business travel. With the opening recently extended until at least late August, and with the covid on the USA side as it is, the common belief in my circle is that even a September 21 is doubtful. I think we will hear the rumblings of this early in September. I've canceled my 39 & 40 Key West weeks. But I held on to the flight (until September) should things improve unexpectedly. I expect here will be plenty of availability to rent.

I personally don't lay blame on Americans or snowbirds bring in Coivd because I don't this is factual to the extend some have expressed. Certainly there were some, but I do blame those who traveled to the epicenter willfully for their personal reasons. Those Americans on the way to Alaska, that bent the entry rules...well they paid a hefty price, but just too bad the fines were not 10 fold more.

As this epidemic continues, we have also put on hold our 2021 winter vacations, as have many others classifed as snowbirds. That's going to be a big hit on those host communities and what I fear will be the basis of a push by the USA politicians to open the boarders prematurely. In any case, I'd say the onuis is on the individual to do thier part to keep themselves safe and by extension their community if you travel.

 

[jabberwocky]

Some insurers are starting to offer Covid coverage for Canadian travellers. (May be behind paywall)

Insurers offer out-of-country medical coverage amid COVID-19 pandemic

Medipac Travel Insurance and the Canadian Association of Blue Cross have both restored medical emergency coverage for the novel coronavirus in their travel insurance policies this month

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[cman]

No country should allow american tourists at this point. I'm American, and can assure you that we don't have a plan or strategy to get this thing under control. The second that Canada opens its borders, Americans will flock there and spread the virus. We're so deranged, that we've made mask wearing a political statement. Now, you Canadians are more than welcome to visit, but it's not in your best interest to let us cross your borders. We've lost our collective minds. Be safe.

 

[Retired!]

No country should allow american tourists at this point. I'm American, and can assure you that we don't have a plan or strategy to get this thing under control. The second that Canada opens its borders, Americans will flock there and spread the virus. We're so deranged, that we've made mask wearing a political statement. Now, you Canadians are more than welcome to visit, but it's not in your best interest to let us cross your borders. We've lost our collective minds. Be safe.

Well I think the tale is not completely told yet in Canada --we have recently begun more openings in various parts of the country and numbers are upticking. Hopefully, we will be able to curtail any huge upticks but we are not out of the woods.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Well I think the tale is not completely told yet in Canada --we have recently begun more openings in various parts of the country and numbers are upticking. Hopefully, we will be able to curtail any huge upticks but we are not out of the woods.

I would tend to agree. We have done reasonably well up until now with getting Covid-19 under control, so at least we are starting from a better place generally than in the USA as we begin to open up. However, the seemingly clueless, selfish element is not totally absent here either, so we can't be complacent.

There are upticks in cases in many areas of the country as they have moved to open up the economy and ease restrictions. Things like the weekend jamming of Trinity Bellwoods Park here in Toronto, crowding at Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay, mass camping in the mountains of Alberta, and a crowded drum circle on a beach in Vancouver. Now that Ottawa has just recently moved to phase 3, it was followed by more new cases than either Toronto or Peel Region, both of which are larger municipalities but still in phase 2!

And then there is this clip from Saturday from the amusement area of Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls (Ontario), which shows mostly younger people, very few of them exercising proper physical distancing and almost none wearing masks. I don't know whether they think they are immune, invincible, or just don't care, but their behaviour reeks of self-absorption and is very exasperating. No wonder authorities are frustrated.

Videos show massive crowds on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls last weekend

Videos that emerged online of crowds appearing to ignore physical distancing guidelines at Niagara Falls have sparked concerns about visiting the popular tourist destination.

www.cp24.com

 

[MULTIZ321]

Once Canada's oil relief valve, rail shipping grinds to near halt.

Once Canada's oil relief valve, rail shipping grinds to near halt

After moving record-large Canadian oil volumes by rail just five months ago, shippers have hit the brakes, idling thousands of cars and tens of millions of dollars' worth of infrastructure.

www.reuters.com

Richard

 

[bizaro86]

Once Canada's oil relief valve, rail shipping grinds to near halt.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-canada-railways-analysis/once-canadas-oil-relief-valve-rail-shipping-grinds-to-near-halt-idUSKCN24T2

.

Richard

The link didn't work for me. I think rail shipments of oil have ended for now because given all the shut-in there is enough pipeline space to move the current production?

 

[MULTIZ321]

The link didn't work for me. I think rail shipments of oil have ended for now because given all the shut-in there is enough pipeline space to move the current production?

I updated the link - it should work now.


Richard

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Once Canada's oil relief valve, rail shipping grinds to near halt.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-canada-railways-analysis/once-canadas-oil-relief-valve-rail-shipping-grinds-to-near-halt-idUSKCN24T2

.

Richard

Hi Richard. I agree with bizaro86. The oil industry in Canada has been significantly impacted for awhile, due partly to the current low price per barrel. This is further affected by the reduced demand, not only domestically but internationally, with so many people not travelling and/or working from home.

Rail is often a "secondary" method of oil transportation, when pipelines are already at capacity. As the oil sands production increased, they started working to expand the pipeline network and capacity. But with less demand, there is less need for rail shipments. In any case, rail transport of petroleum products has traditionally represented less than 10% of total rail shipments in Canada. Grain and agricultural products typically account for more than double the rail tonnage of oil. Nevertheless, it still has a significant impact on the railways and their profitability, plus those companies that own or lease oil cars or are involved in the transport of oil by rail.

The most recent statistics I could find from Statistics Canada cover the period from 2014 to 2018. The chart below shows the amounts by sector, transported by rail, in metric tonnes.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2310006201

Edited: Thanks, Richard. The link works now.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Hi Richard. I agree with bizaro86. The oil industry in Canada has been significantly impacted for awhile, due partly to the current low price per barrel. This is further affected by the reduced demand, not only domestically but internationally, with so many people not travelling and/or working from home.

Rail is often a "secondary" method of oil transportation, when pipelines are already at capacity. As the oil sands production increased, they started working to expand the pipeline network and capacity. But with less demand, there is less need for rail shipments. In any case, rail transport of petroleum products has traditionally represented less than 10% of total rail shipments in Canada. Grain and agricultural products typically account for more than double the rail tonnage of oil. Nevertheless, it still has a significant impact on the railways and their profitability, plus those companies that own or lease oil cars or are involved in the transport of oil by rail.

The most recent statistics I could find from Statistics Canada cover the period from 2014 to 2018. The chart below shows the amounts by sector, transported by rail, in metric tonnes.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2310006201

Edited: Thanks, Richard. The link works now.

SUGAR - Is that Beet Sugar?

 

[CanuckTravlr]

SUGAR - Is that Beet Sugar?

Almost all of our sugar comes from raw sugar cane. Historically it was imported from the Caribbean and other southern climates, up the St. Lawrence River and Seaway, to large sugar refineries in Montreal and Toronto. And yes, some of that sugar cane comes from Cuba! Once refined, it could then be shipped by rail all over the country in bulk carriers. We only have a small sugar beet industry, mostly in Alberta. Sugar cane also comes into Vancouver now, where there is a refinery, from as far away as Australia.

https://sugar.ca/International-Trade/Canadian-Sugar-Industry/Canadian-sugar-today.aspx

 

[MULTIZ321]

Almost all of our sugar comes from raw sugar cane. Historically it was imported from the Caribbean and other southern climates, up the St. Lawrence River and Seaway to large sugar refineries in Montreal and Toronto. And yes, some of that sugar cane comes from Cuba! Once refined, it could then be shipped by rail all over the country in bulk carriers. We only have a small sugar beet industry, mostly in Alberta. Sugar cane also comes into Vancouver now, where there is a refinery, from as far away as Australia.

https://sugar.ca/International-Trade/Canadian-Sugar-Industry/Canadian-sugar-today.aspx

Thanks for the update. Love learning about Canada on Tug.

Richard

 

[DannyTS]

this is going to be a very cold and long winter for many

Air Transat cancels most winter flights out of Western Canada due to COVID-19 pandemic | Globalnews.ca

Air Transat said it is scrubbing routes that were slated to take off from Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.

globalnews.ca