On February 9, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced incoming measures at the land border that would require all non-essential travellers entering Canada to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before arrival. Truck drivers, as essential workers, remain exempt.

“As of next Monday, people who show up at a Canadian land border on non-essential travel … like returning snowbirds, will be expected to show a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours,” said Trudeau.

In late January, the Government of Canada announced its intention to test at the land border but emphasized that commercial truck drivers and other essential workers would continue to be exempt from this requirement, which was confirmed to the Canadian Trucking Alliance through a Transport Canada press release:

The Government of Canada will introduce a 72-hour pre-arrival testing requirement (molecular test) for travellers seeking entry in land mode, with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers. In addition, we continue to collaborate with partners in the United States to strengthen our border measures and keep our countries safe.

CTA will continue to keep members up to date on any potential changes to the land border that may impact essential transportation workers in the future.

BCTA President & CEO gave numerous interviews to media on this topic on February 9 and 10, 2021, since the initial announcement about testing needed clarification. For an example, see “COVID-19: Truckers hauling to the U.S. rarely leave their vehicles, remain exempt from testing,” by Susan Lazaruk, Vancouver Sun, February 10, 2021 (accessed online February 10, 2021).