After Trump targets Europe, Canadian officials say closing the border won't stop COVID-19
By Tonda MacCharlesOttawa Bureau
Thu., March 12, 2020timer4 min. read
OTTAWA—The Canadian government is defending its refusal to bar travellers from any country at the border, as fears related to the coronavirus pandemic hit the global economy.
The morning after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a ban on all European travellers entering the U.S. starting Friday at midnight, stock markets plunged, triggering a halt to trading. Trump had initially said he'd bar travellers, goods and trade from Europe, not including the U.K., but the White House clarified the prohibition was on the movement of people only.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled a visit to Canada's Public Health Agency Thursday morning and later announced he was self-isolating because his wife was exhibiting symptoms late Wednesday after returning from the U.K. He was reportedly meeting with a special cabinet subcommittee on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told CBC Radio Thursday morning that Canada was not advised of Trump's move.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino told reporters in Ottawa the federal government would not comment on "other countries' policies" and remains confident that its actions — which he stressed follow the advice of WHO and Canadian health experts — will ensure the health and wellness of Canadians.
Indeed, a couple of hours before Trump's drastic move, Canada's top public health officials had pushed back at suggestions they should take a tougher border approach at the border.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu rejected the idea travel restrictions at the Canadian border would help stop the virus' spread.
"It is much better to have targeted measures at the border that helps you identify people who are coming from severely affected areas, that will help you ensure you know who's coming in, that they have the information about what to do, and we can monitor them as they self-isolate," she said.
She said Ottawa has evidence there was a "very high compliance rate" with its public health recommendations to travellers who came back to Canada from China's Hubei province where the virus originated.
"A virus does not know borders. We have over 100 countries now that have coronavirus in their country," she said. "No country will be left unaffected by the time this is over."
"We are certain that this is the right approach," Hajdu said.
And the health minister suggested now is not the time to take decisions based on politics.
"We have to take decisions that are actually about protecting the health and safety of Canadians. We can't take them because it feels right, we can't take them despite the evidence. We have to use science and evidence. That is the primary responsibility I feel as a minister of health."
Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam underlined the idea that closing borders is ineffective.
"Borders are not a solid wall, but one layer of protection, and it is never a perfect layer," she said. "The more numbers of countries affected, you can imagine that trying to screen people at the borders becomes much more ineffective means of addressing the coronavirus outbreak."
Canada has warned Canadians against travel to China, Iran, all of Italy and some areas of Korea, but has not prevented any travellers from returning to this country, except for those who were stranded in hot zones, like Wuhan or on two cruise ships who tested positive ahead of government repatriation flights.
Now, the number of confirmed cases in Canada continues to climb.
Hajdu and Tam admitted Thursday Canada like all countries potentially could see an infection rate of between 30 to 70 per cent of the population, although Hajdu stressed the "science is not clear."
On Thursday, Manitoba has announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19. That appears to bring the number of confirmed cases in Canada to 122, however the federal public health agency's report lagged behind the latest developments, listing 103 infections Thursday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, chose his words carefully about Trump's actions.
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"President Trump has to make that decision for his country," said Ford.
He said Trump's border measures and Canadian border security would be discussed among first ministers Thursday, and noted that the situation is evolving daily.
Ford said that the federal government and premiers "need to make sure we toughen up the border" but declined to say what that meant, repeatedly stressing it is important to keep borders open to keep billions in trade moving with the United States.
Ford praised the federal government for its work on the COVID-19 outbreak, saying the prime minister and his deputy have been "fully engaged" with all provinces, and their ministers of health, and public health officers.
"We have to be vigilant, and keep an eye on our borders, make sure that we're doing proper screening but we'll be in discussions about this with the prime minister and the premiers," he said.
"I've all the confidence in the world in our border patrol, here and the U.S. and we have to look at this as North America, not just Canada…it's absolutely critical we keep the borders open and have the trade moving back and forth."
Tonda MacCharles is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc
Justin Trudeau, Donald Trump, Doug Ford