Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Bats - did you not travel to UK frequently pre-pandemic? I've been on this forum awhile so I would remember. So let's maybe avoid being hypocritical. ;)

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Bats emigrated to Canada via a carbon neutral transatlantic crossing :lol:

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

:goodpost:

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

This is true. I traveled to spend time with my 90 year old mother and will still go and visit her, I think helping her when I can is essential. No flying off to the sun or cruising, the thought of that fills me with horror anyway so I wouldn't have to struggle with any principles for that one.
​​​​​​Re cently we've all become much more aware of climate change and how our actions affect that so how we behaved in the past might well be different to how we behave now.



Yes we rowed across and up the St Lawrence. It was quite the journey.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

But not travelling - i.e. decrease in tourism - also has a huge impact on the economics of many countries... resulting in poverty for some.

https://wttc.org/Research/Economic-Impact

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

You told me to leave you alone so it would help if you don't answer my posts

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Using your argument though, ALL flying is damaging to the environment. You can't pick and choose which is good and which is bad.

Hate to break it to you, but your actions are not going to reverse the course of climate change singlehandedly. We are all doomed as the majority of greenhouse gases are emitted by China and they do not give a rat's arse about anybody else. So anything we do as the western world, CANZUSAUSUKEU , will be overshadowed by the tonnes of emissions emitted by China almost like they are laughing in our face.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

:nod:

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

"Politicians are never there to do things for you, they are there to do things to you", - remember this every time they come up with new and ridiculous travel restrictions for the vaccinated.

Yes, I am aware that the vaccines are the only way out of this, but also, if it wouldn't be for the freedom to travel, I wouldn't even be bothered to get vaccinated.

Politicians won't get very far with "advisories" and they know it and so do we all. It's like a property tax increase to be called "advisory to pay more".

Yes, agreed, this statement means nothing, but it can be seen as a warning for re-implementing quarantine with the usual fascist threats of 5 years jail time for non-compliance, or 500 K fines.

It's just a matter of time until Ford says "I still see too many airplanes arriving at Pearson".

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I am about to cancel our long-planned train trip across Canada for a resumption of Christmas with family, because of the concern about this next wave of Covid, and especially of the Omicron variant.

Yes,I know that we are both vaccinated.

Yes, I know that the train has the same restrictions as required for travel on planes domestically or internationally.

Yes, I know hotels have safety protocols in place.

What I do not know is how many people I pass in the stations or hotel lobbies are vaccinated.

Nor do I know how many on the train or around me are vaccinated but have contracted Covid, Delta or Omicron and are asymptomatic BUT contagious.

What I do know is that when I read and hear scientists and people I trust saying Do Not Travel unless it is essential, then I should listen, read and understand why they are saying that.

In this case, numbers of cases are soaring in many provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces, and BC .

Anyway, what is essential????????

As an aside, why have Ontario and Quebec always been having such problems in controlling infection. I know they are the largest provinces, population-wise, but that alone does not seem possible.

So, we're being cautious, staying home to protect ourselves and others, instead of being selfish and thinking only of our pleasure and desire.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I think that's the wrong way of thinking, or more, how politicians want you to think, not common sense. It's not travel, but more behaviour. You could get infected right on your doorstep or within your community as easily as on any kind of trip to wherever.

The only thing that you can do in terms of being cautious, is vaccination, most notably 3 times, mask wearing and hand washing.

At some point any of us will be infected in one way or another, so high infection rates don't bother me at all, - it's the mild symptoms and not needing an ICU bed which are the important factors.

At the point where we are now, we're all more likely of dying of cancer than of Covid 19.

There is absolutely no need for politically mandated scaremongering.

Lawmakers should rather implement a mandatory vaccination policy ( only exception medial reasons ) and not bother with travel restrictions or the cost of enforcing that or debates of what is to be deemed essential and what not.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

This has always been the case.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Well you're probably right but i prefer to hope that we can do something, that if we each do something then the combined effect will help.

it's not a question of choosing good flying vs bad, but not of not flying if we don't have to do so. Of choosing better ways to travel. You mentioned backpacking round Europe, great idea, get a train pass and just follow your nose. Flying out for stag hen/parties would be a no, you can get drunk and throw up just as easily at home.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Anyway, i'm thinking this thread has gone a little off topic for something outside of the Maple Leaf. Let's keep the virtue signalling and debate about how serious the pandemic is / vaccine mandates etc to the main Covid thread.

:focus:

At this point anecdotally other then the renewed travel advisory and increased arrival testing we aren't seeing any new restrictions. The proposed restrictions of 100% arrival testing aren't even in play, it is still randomized and it is also random whether people are being told to quarantine.

I'll keep the thread updated with new info as/when it comes out.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

'Travel' is a very far reaching matter. To me, it is one of the joys of life and I enjoy it greatly. New places, new environments, new food, new people and to just wipe it away saying the 'dream of travel should be ended' is very draconian.

Where do you draw the line between a trip to a new place for things such as walking, hiking, museums, new food versus a week long drink and drugs bender I could be anywhere trip to Magaluf/Cancun/Dayton/Ibiza. Is one acceptable and the other not.

Since March 2020, I haven't been past Toronto or Montreal or Algonquin Park. I managed to not be in the USA in the Trump era but did travel to the UK, Alberta/BC, France and Italy in that time. Since March 2020 none of that but once the numbers are down in terms of Covid etc I can't wait to travel again. We have the money and for us it is money well spent. Many long standing memories for myself, my wife and our immediate families are based on travel.