COVID-19 Air Travel Interim Order

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice (published April 3, 2021) contains three items: a short notice about the Canada–Ontario Great Lakes agreement, final screening decisions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 on two chemicals, and a long Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, No. 24 (an order made March 17, 2021) that sets mandatory health rules for many flights and airports. The chemical assessments say no further action is planned. The interim order sets testing, temperature screening, mask and notification rules for air travel and gives penalties for breaking them.

What it does#

• Environment and health notices

  • Publishes a notice about comments on the Canada–Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes water quality.
  • Publishes final screening assessments under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 for acetonitrile and DTPMP (phosphonic acid ... tetrakis-), concluding neither meets the law’s criteria for further action.
  • Reports include import or use figures: acetonitrile imports (2011) were reported in the range 10,000 kg to 100,000 kg; DTPMP imports were reported as 333,656 kg.

• Interim Order for civil aviation (COVID-19)

  • Requires carriers and private operators to notify and get confirmations from people boarding flights about possible public-health measures and penalties.
  • For flights to Canada, requires travellers to show evidence of a COVID-19 molecular test result that is either:
    • a negative test with specimen collected no more than 72 hours before the flight’s initial scheduled departure, or
    • a positive test collected between 14 and 90 days before departure.
  • Requires health checks and temperature screening:
    • Questions about fever, cough or breathing difficulties.
    • Temperature screening for many international flights and at selected Canadian aerodromes. A second temperature check must be done after a rest of 10 minutes if the first shows an elevated temperature.
    • A person with an elevated temperature may be refused boarding or denied entry to restricted areas and barred from flying or entering restricted areas for 14 days unless a medical certificate says the symptom is not related to COVID-19.
  • Face mask rules:
    • People aged 6 and over must be in possession of a mask before boarding and generally wear it during boarding, flight and until they exit the terminal.
    • Exceptions for very young children (under 2 years), medical certificates, or safety reasons.
  • Operational and record-keeping requirements for air carriers, aerodrome operators and screening authorities:
    • Equipment must be calibrated and staff trained.
    • Records (e.g., counts of denied boardings, equipment calibration, training) must be kept for at least 90 days; records of mask refusals on flights must be kept for 12 months.
  • Lists the Canadian airports covered (Schedule 1), which includes major airports such as Calgary International Airport (CYYC), Toronto / Lester B. Pearson International Airport (CYYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (CYVR).
  • Designates many contraventions with monetary penalties. Maximum penalties listed include $5,000 and $25,000 depending on the offence and whether the offender is an individual or corporation.

Who's affected#

• Travellers to and within Canada who are boarding commercial flights. They may need:
  • a valid COVID-19 molecular test result (for many international arrivals),
  • to undergo health questions and temperature checks,
  • to wear a face mask and keep it on in specified situations.
• Air carriers and private operators: must perform checks, deny boarding where required, keep records, notify authorities if false test evidence is suspected, and ensure equipment and training are in place.
• Aerodrome operators and screening authorities at the listed airports: must provide screening facilities, run temperature checks and keep records.
• Crew members and some categories of travellers are exempt from parts of the order (for example, crew and people with appropriate medical certificates; children under 2 years are generally exempt).
• Importers and users of acetonitrile and DTPMP (laboratories, water‑treatment companies, some personal‑care and industrial uses) are affected by the publication of screening assessments, although both substances were found not to require further action at this time.

Why it matters#

• For travellers: the order can mean being denied boarding, turned away at security checkpoints, or required to quarantine if you lack the required test, show symptoms, or have an elevated temperature. That can disrupt travel plans and add costs for testing and accommodation.
• For airlines and airports: there are new operational duties (screening, record keeping, training and equipment maintenance) and potential fines for non‑compliance up to $25,000 for some offences.
• For public health: the order is meant to reduce the chance of importing or spreading COVID-19 via air travel by adding tests, screenings and mask rules.
• For the public and businesses using the two chemicals: the screening assessments say that, based on available evidence, acetonitrile and DTPMP are not considered to pose risks that trigger further regulatory action under the CEPA test — but the assessments and their details are posted on the government’s chemical substances pages for anyone who wants the full reports.