The Tourism Industry Association of Canada may be calling for the border to re-open in four to six weeks but announcements made by the federal government on Wednesday are a far cry from reaching that goal.

The Government of Canada is only willing to commit to getting rid of quarantine rules for  Canadians and permanent residents crossing the border into Canada, by July. And those travellers will have to be fully vaccinated to be exempt from having to quarantine for two weeks.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says affected travellers will still have to take a COVID-19 test on arrival, will still have to have a negative PCR pre-departure test result, and will have to stay in isolation until their arrival test comes back negative. She says how each phase is implemented depends on how the virus is doing in Canada and internationally.

Meanwhile, Moderna vaccines from the U.S will start rolling into Canada soon. During their COVID update, federal procurement minister Anita Anand says they’re part of some seven million doses slated to arrive starting next week which is when they will also be able to provide information about specific shipment dates. She says Pfizer shipments are also ramping up. (CJGX)