Hotel Quarantine Court Decision Looms: Ruling Could Come on Monday
March 19, 2021 ctn_admin
We should find out soon whether an injunction will be granted to stop the federal government’s controversial hotel quarantine program.
Speaking in a court hearing broadcast on Zoom on Friday, Ontario Superior Court Judge Frederick Myers said he should have a written decision by Monday morning.
Myers presided over a three-hour session on Friday to hear a challenge from the Canadian Constitution Foundation.
The CCF was joined by five individual applicants who are either seeking to travel imminently, or have just returned from travelling.
“We were pleased with how the hearing went, and we thought Mr. Roth, our lawyer, did an excellent job presenting the case and answering the judge’s questions,” Christine Van Geyn, Litigation Director of the CCF, told Canadian Travel News in an email. “While the standard for an injunction is high, we believe we have a strong case and a the individual travellers we are working with have extremely compelling stories.
“We look forward to the decision on Monday.”
The plan requires all arriving passengers at Canada’s four open international airports to undergo a COVID-19 test. They are then required to check into a pre-selected airport hotel for up to three nights while they await their test results.
Rooms can cost upwards of $2,000, although many are cheaper, and hotels don’t appear to be offering refunds if guests get their test results before their three day stay is up. In addition to the payment issue and lack of refunds, guests have complained of crowded lobbies and poor food at the quarantine hotels.
In an opinion piece posted on our site, Van Geyn said the individuals involved in the Ontario case are “incredibly sympathetic. They have recently travelled for end-of-life care of a parent or for a funeral, or are urgently seeking to leave Canada for a compassionate reason.”
“Trudeau’s quarantine hotels have only been operating for a few weeks, but they are already facing serious legal challenges,” she said in her published story. “The hotels are considered by civil libertarians and travellers alike to be one of the most poorly implemented and restrictive responses to COVID-19 brought by any level of government.
“That’s why the quarantine hotel policy is now facing at least four constitutional challenges. Two in Alberta, one in Ontario and one in Quebec,” Van Geyn wrote.
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We are a family of 9 volunteers looking to return to Canada as our term has ended and my husband found a job back in Canada. We are moving back to start completely over after selling and giving away all our processions to move overseas a year and a half ago. I hope this mandatory hotel charge gets thrown out for people like us who left Canada before covid and just want to or need to come home again. We also have a home to quarantine in so it’s not like we even need to spend money on a hotel and expose our children. My husband, my oldest son and I all also are fully vaccinated with the pziser vaccine so this is totally unacceptable. Also I’m not happy about having to consider placing 7 unaccompanied minors (2 with special needs) on an aioli in alone to avoid the hotel fees which are way over priced for families.
I am Canadian citizen Iam asnowbird Visit Floridafor couple of month every year I have my 2 vaccinations It’s time to come back to my home in Ottawa Here Ihave lived alone in my own place so I donot want to go to hotel but I can qaurinten in Ottawain my home Please I want to know thanks
I will be returning back to Canada fully vaccinated, something I cannot get done in Canada. Will have a clear Covid test when I get on the plan to return to Canada. Why on earth do I need to stay in a hotel full of all sorts of individuals some vaccinated, some not. I will have to board a crowed bus, wait in a crowded lobby of a hotel to check in…….makes no sense! I could easily go home and stay in my house by myself coming in contact with very few people getting there. Does our Canadian Government not have faith in the vaccines?…….if they did those fully vaccinated should not be subjected to the hotel quarantine.
I agree, this was the worst decision ever implemented! Why would we go to a public hotel and take food three times a day from strangers coming and going daily? We have only eaten out twice since last March. Furthermore, we have been vaccinated. I was told by border patrol that Canada isn’t recognizing them. How insane is that?! Also, the whole plane is tested before going on the plane, where would we catch it from? Why would we require another test? It’s a cash grab!
Im a Canadian citizen, currently in Lisbon Portugal with my husband as a result of my mother-in-law’s death on March 5th. She had no other children or family since her husband’s passing 7 years earlier. She was 94 & died of natural causes not Covid!! We will be going back in 2 weeks & have no intention of booking a hotel to quarantine! We will comply with all tests & will quarantine as long as it takes in our own home. My husband is 71 a diabetic with heart problems & im 70. There is no way we’re staying in any of those hotels locked up like prisoners without timely & proper food & beverages!
Maria Ribeiro
I would hope the same challenge is applied to land travelers especially those that have had a vaccine. The attitude and actions against “safe” travelers while many community members who are positive have no checks at all borders on harassment. Time someone did something about these petulant programs.
Looking forward to hear a good news on Monday!
We spend our winter in the DR. We got our covid vaccinations in the DR. We have booked four flights back to Canada because the government’s “partnership “ with the airlines that fly to the Caribbean keeps cancelling them. We have a home so we can safely quarantine. This isn’t about safety at all! This is aimed at helping accommodators and getting votes using fear mongering.
I did quarantine at hotel one night and got negative COVID test and rest of quarantine at home . They give home COVID test to do at home with online nurse and I didn’t get nurse alter 7 to 8 hrs of waiting for 3 days . At the end I did by myself and sent it by Mail. After I have to extend my quarantine for 2 more day because the test I did at home sent me results 2 days late. There is one more thing if you book hotel by your self for 3 nights the price is very low , like $ 300 for 3 nights but at airport public health did not accept that booking and they give to number to call and book hotel ant the same hotel price is $600 per night it makes $1800 for 3 nights and if you got negative test early you can leave but no refund 😶
I’m an American living in Ontario.. I need to go back HOME for my 89 year old mother is ill and NOT from Covid. Only thing stopping me from going is the hassle and STUPID Requirements of Canada in order to return. I also applied for Canadian Citizenship.. I’ve now decided I WILL not become a citizen of this country due to all the ILLEGAL Actions that the Canadian Govt. is doing to it’s own people…My Family which is spread out all over the States keeps telling me to SELL my Home here inwhich is PAID in FULL and move back to the states where it may not be perfect but you still have YOUR RIGHTS and FREEDOMS.
Stupid Canadian government decision to hold travellers in a crowded and neglected hotels.
I really hope they start using their brains and understand the risk and struggle of the people. Otherwise I feel a revolution is coming.
Flying back 23 apr Florida to Montreal(flight changed from Toronto by air Canada. Have to stay 3 days in prison and then catch a flight to Edmonton. It makes no sense, have our vaccination, will get our covid testing before we board the A/C. In the mean time locals from places around Montreal can board the A/C with just a covid test no hotel requirement. Makes no sense. Secondly I have not eaten out and certainly do not want their food.