Canada lifts border vaccine mandates, required masks on planes and trains

Mandatory vaccinations, testing and quarantine will no longer be required for international travellers as of Saturday, according to federal ministers.

Officials also announced that mask mandates on planes and trains will drop on Oct. 1.

“Thanks largely to Canadians who have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we have reached the point where we can safely lift the sanitary measures at the border,” said Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos.

The cabinet order maintaining COVID-19 border measures will not be renewed when it expires on Sept. 30.

This means foreign nationals will no longer need an approved series of vaccinations to enter the country.

Random mandatory COVID-19 testing will stop for Canada-bound travellers, and unvaccinated Canadians will not need to be isolated when they return to the country.

The controversial ArriveCan app will not be mandatory when the order expires, but federal officials say travellers can use the app to submit customs and immigration declarations before they arrive at certain airports.

People who enter Canada before Saturday will still have to follow quarantine and testing requirements.