Can we can take these next steps safely?
Canada will open its borders to American travellers next month – provided they’re fully vaccinated. In a statement released by Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, the government announced that all US citizens and permanent residents can travel into Canada without having to quarantine.
"Canadians' safety and security always come first. With rising vaccination rates and fewer cases in Canada, we can begin to safely ease border measures,” added Patty Hajdu, minster of health. “A gradual approach to reopening will allow our health authorities to monitor the COVID-19 situation here and abroad. Canadians have worked hard and sacrificed for each other, and because of that work, we can take these next steps safely."
Coming into effect on August 9, 2021, all international flights carrying passengers can land in;
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport;
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport;
- Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport;
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport; and
- Edmonton International Airport.
This new strategy will allow the government to monitor any new variants in Canada and the overall effectiveness of vaccines.
As the travel bubble opens, employers will undoubtedly be questioning whether or not business travel between Canada and the US can resume. The COVID-19 pandemic put an end to any business and corporate travel, leaving employers unable to visit their overseas staff. During a recent panel discussion hosted by HRD, leading practitioners debated what the new ‘business travel’ will look list post-pandemic.
Speaking to HRD, Dr Jan Knocke, head of talent mobility APAC at Schaeffler, added that global mobility will likely remain after COVID has gone – but it will look slightly different.
“There won’t be too many changes,” he told HRD. “Of course, we need to be concerned and mindful, but that’s what we did before. [Overseas] assignments are always very cost-intensive projects, so we need to be cautious about it. We will foster more assignments within the region, which should also be easier to administer and implement. I mean if you have different regions to be considered and covered [for travel plans], this is even more complex. So, if you narrow it down to one region this will probably reduce the complexity and make realising assignments easier for us.”
Will you resume business travel? Tell us in the comments.
