Entry ban for foreign nationals (non‑US)

Summary#

This Gazette notice records two Orders in Council made on July 30, 2020. One order ends temporary pauses on court deadlines that had been put in place early in the pandemic. The other continues a COVID‑19 border rule that bars most foreign nationals from entering Canada from countries other than the United States until August 31, 2020.

What it does#

• Ends parts of the pause put in place by the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) so normal court time limits resume for proceedings before courts under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
• Ends the pause for proceedings under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, so those regulatory time limits and related court steps resume.
• Extends the border restriction set by the Quarantine Act as the order called “Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from any Country other than the United States)”, which:
  • Prohibits most foreign nationals from entering Canada if they arrive from a country other than the United States.
  • Keeps a long list of specific exemptions, including certain immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, crew and certain workers, holders of valid work or study permits, licensed health professionals, and people needed in the national interest or for COVID‑19 response work.
  • Prohibits entry for optional or discretionary travel (for example tourism).
  • Bars anyone who has COVID‑19 symptoms or is known to have COVID‑19, with narrow operational exceptions.
  • Is in effect from 23:59:59 Eastern daylight time on the day it was made until 23:59:59 Eastern daylight time on August 31, 2020.
• Notes that other quarantine and isolation rules (including a complementary order requiring symptomatic people to isolate and asymptomatic people to quarantine for 14 days) continue to apply.
• Reminds that failure to follow the Quarantine Act orders can bring penalties up to $1,000,000 or imprisonment for three years.

Who's affected#

• Businesses and creditors involved in insolvency, restructuring or creditor arrangements. They should expect court and regulatory deadlines to be back in force.
• Companies, lawyers and other parties involved in patent‑related litigation under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations.
• Travellers: most foreign nationals trying to enter Canada from countries other than the United States.
• People or groups listed as exemptions, who can still enter under conditions: immediate family of Canadians/permanent residents, crew, holders of valid work or study permits, certain health workers and emergency service providers, people approved for national‑interest travel, and others specifically listed.
• People registered under the Indian Act and protected persons (refugees) — the order does not apply to them.
• Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not barred by this order, but other public health measures (quarantine/isolation) still apply when they enter.

Why it matters#

• Ending the suspensions means legal and administrative deadlines that were paused during the early pandemic start running again. That can affect timelines for bankruptcies, restructurings and patent-related court challenges — parties should check deadlines and act quickly.
• The border prohibition limits tourism, most discretionary travel and some business travel into Canada from countries other than the United States. That affects travellers, families trying to reunite, and businesses that depend on international visitors.
• The measure is aimed at lowering the chance of new COVID‑19 cases entering Canada. It works alongside quarantine and isolation rules already in place.
• The order carries large penalties for non‑compliance, so travellers and organizations should take the rules seriously.