Bubble burst; inconsistent reopening dates causing confusion for Atlantic travellers
With vaccination rates climbing and border restrictions loosening across the Atlantic region, many travellers are getting anxious to plan their summer getaways.
But for some, staggered reopening dates are making that planning a more difficult task.
At this time last year, all four Atlantic premiers were preparing to open the Atlantic Bubble. But this year, each province has been moving forward with individual reopening plans, each with a different start date.
“On one side of things, you sort of understand that each province needs to do things a little bit differently,” says Moncton resident Jen Williston. “But you can’t have one province say ‘Yes, you can come in and out,’ and then have another say ‘Well, no you can't';.”
As of Wednesday at midnight, residents of Atlantic Canada can enter New Brunswick without testing or self-isolating.
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador will open their borders to Atlantic travellers on June 23, but the process is slightly more complicated in P.E.I., where Atlantic Canadians with one dose of vaccine who fit under one of the province’s approved travel streams can enter on June 23, but those who don’t fit into a travel stream will have to wait until June 27.
It’s a lot of information for Maritimers to take in.
“I don’t know if I can go to one province, and if I can, can I come back?” asks Moncton resident Julie McGivery. “And do I need to swab? I have both vaccinations…can I go? Can I not go? So it’s still unclear to most people.”
The mayor of Amherst, N.S. questions the lack of consistency across the Atlantic provinces.
“I was much more a fan of when the four Atlantic premiers worked collaboratively and made decisions collectively, and I think the fact that that’s not happening now is not the best way of going about this,” says Dr. David Kogon.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says he’s confident those inconsistencies won’t last long.
“I just think we’re only talking about a couple of days, or a couple of weeks at the outside here, when we could have a little difference of situation in each province, but we’re all going to get there,” says Higgs.
Those looking to arrange summer visits hope the coming days will bring some clarity to their travel plans.
“You don’t want to break the rules, but we want to see our family,” says Jen Williston.
Trying not to break rules that vary from province to province.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.