While some people will be released from quarantine upon arrival in Canada, most people will have to follow instructions.
Valid from February 21st Travelers coming to Canada overland must also produce a negative result for a COVID-19 molecular test performed on arrival in the US. The test must be taken within 72 hours of arriving in Canada.
Travelers also need to use ArriveCAN enter their information about quarantine plans.
But what if you break any of the quarantine rules?
While there are several rules that must be followed, breaking any of these rules is considered a criminal offense under the Violation Act.
Infringement Act
In April last year, legislative changes under the Contraventions Act came into force. The changes provide law enforcement agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local and provincial police forces, with more flexibility in issuing tickets to anyone who fails to comply with the instructions of the Federal Quarantine Act.
This means that travelers are legally required to follow the instructions of a vetting agent or quarantine officer during the 14 day period for testing requirements, be it for testing, transit to locations, their mandatory hotel stopover, or quarantine at home or at another suitable location.
There are penalties for failure to follow directions, including a maximum fine of up to $ 750,000 or a six-month prison term.
Under this ticket regime, when a ticket is issued, a person can voluntarily pay for the ticket to avoid a trial and a criminal record. This will help save valuable resources for courts and law enforcement agencies, which is especially important during this ongoing pandemic.
However, these changes do not prevent law enforcement agencies from pursuing a matter under the summary sentencing procedure set out in the Criminal Code if they believe that more serious action is needed.
These enforcement measures are in addition to the provincial and local ordinances already issued in some jurisdictions that enable ticketing.
