Travellers at Toronto Pearson react to relaxed travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians
Returning home to Canada is now a little easier -- if you are fully vaccinated.
Starting today, Canadians and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated can enter the country without observing a 14-day quarantine or staying in a COVID-19 hotel.
Canadian Julia Dunn arrived at Pearson Airport on Monday from her home in Houston and is travelling to see her parents in Cape Breton, NS.
"It feels very freeing being able to get home to the family, without having to spend those two weeks alone," Dunn said.
Wasif Khan said he travels to and from the U.S .frequently for work and that being able to skip the stay in a quarantine hotel "feels amazing.”
“$1,000…you save a lot,” he said.
READ MORE: 'It's very freeing': Quarantine rules ease for fully vaccinated Canadian travellers
In order to skip quarantine, travellers must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test that is fewer than three days old. They must complete a COVID-19 test on arrival and they must provide proof of vaccination.
Vaccination proof can be entered into the ArriveCAN app or the online portal before travel.
Eunha Shim said she has been waiting for this day in order to come home from South Korea and see her parents. "I checked the news everyday, to see when it's going to be removed. So I was very happy to see that,” she said.
In the departures section, Jenna Doucette says the relaxation of the rules has affected her plans to see her boyfriend in California. "I waited until now," she said. "I wanted to see if it would open up. So like, be less restrictive."
While fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents enjoy the less restrictive travel requirements, those who have not yet received their second shot must continue to abide by them.
Metha Kedia returned from her graduation from Harvard Business School Monday, but still has to complete a mandatory hotel stay followed by a 14-day quarantine because she is not fully vaccinated.
She says, "Actually I don't mind it, it's fair I think," while standing in the taxi line waiting to be taken to a quarantine hotel.
And although getting back home is becoming easier, it can still be difficult to leave.
Fully vaccinated travellers Matt Sobhy and Jenae Porter are headed to Iceland, which requires vaccination proof only, but they said they missed their first flight to the Newark, NJ because the U.S. requires a negative PCR test upon entry.
Sobhy says, "we're going to get a test downstairs and then hope we'll catch the next flight."
Hoping, like to many, to get their plans moving forward.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.