Long wait at border as restrictions ease for fully-vaccinnated travelers
Friday was a challenging day if you were trying to cross the border.
On the first day since the federal government lifted some restrictions on travelers entering Canada, the wait to cross into Canada from Montana exceeded five hours earlier Friday.
Normally a busy time of year when snowbirds are returning home to Canada, the new travel rules just made things that much busier.
"We ask travelers to be patient, said Lisa Laurencelle-Pearce, Executive Director of the prairie region of the Canada Border Services Agency.
"And," she added, "to be ready with their information."
The federal government lifted pre-entry testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers Friday.
"They do need to take a COVID-19 test on arrival unless randomly selected," Laurencelle-Pearce said.
But some travel requirements remain in place, she added.
"Travelers are to submit their mandatory proof of vaccination using the free Arrive Can app or through the website within 72 hours before arriving in Canada."
Restrictions are only being eased for fully-vaccinated travelers
And with longer processing times at the border, the CBSA is urging travelers to help speed things along.
"Having their passport (and) Arrive Can receipt and proof of vaccination ready," Laurencelle-Pearce said.
Despite the epic wait times at the border, Canadians are itching to get out and travel.
"I travel a lot, so it makes travel easier," said one woman. "Which is what really excites me about it."
Another traveler at Calgary Airport added, "It makes it (travel) a lot less complicated."
And the tourism industry is anxious to welcome back our southern neighbours.
"We really do need an international guest to return if we want to actually see a recovery in the industry," said Tourism Calgary CEO Cindy Ady, adding that it continues to be important to be mindful of safety.
"I know that my hospitality partners are working really hard at keeping their customers safe and comfortable," Ady said.
Travelers are advised to take delays into consideration when crossing the border, whether by land or through the airport.
And the easing of restrictions only applies to those who are fully vaccinated.
Rules for partially or unvaccinated travelers remain unchanged.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Students at Curé-Antoine-Labelle High School near Montreal are protesting after they say their school's administration started pushing what they call a 'sexist' dress code.
Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler is being disciplined for not having bodycam activated
The Kentucky police officer who arrested top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship is receiving 'corrective action' for failing to have his body-worn camera activated.
'I won't stop,' Celine Dion says in trailer for upcoming doc about her health woes
Celine Dion's fans are getting a first glimpse of the superstar's struggle with a rare neurological disorder in an emotional trailer for an upcoming documentary about her career and life.
Air travel is expensive. WestJet wants the government to do more to change that
WestJet is asking the federal government to put measures in place to lower ticket costs for travellers, but questions remain on who would foot the bill.
Hundreds have applied for this 'adventurer' job in Banff National Park
Coined as Banff's 'ultimate summer job,' the Moraine Lake Bus Company says hundreds of people from across the world have applied for its adventurer position.
Ottawa police investigating death of a gosling in Kanata
Ottawa police are investigating after someone allegedly stomped on a gosling in Kanata. Police say it appears that Canada geese laid eggs in the area, 'and on May 21, a suspect stomped on one of the hatched babies.'
Treasury Board president urges managers to be flexible on exemptions for new 3-day office mandate
The president of the Treasury Board is standing by the federal government's new hybrid office mandate for federal public servants, but is urging managers to be flexible for staff requiring exemptions.