The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) just released an expanded list of Canada-US ports of entry – 18 in total – which will be collecting contact information for all travellers (symptomatic and asymptomatic), including truck drivers, starting tomorrow, July 9.
Earlier today, the Canadian Trucking Alliance clarified the increased powers of public health officials to collect the personal information of truck drivers at an initial six Canadian ports of entry (POE) when crossing into Canada. Although the policy was expected to take a phased approach and roll out to additional ports in the coming weeks, CTA was advised this afternoon that travellers crossing 12 additional ports of entry will be required to provide their contact information as well, starting July 9.
On top of the ports which began collecting contact information from truck drivers on June 30 (St Stephen 3rd Bridge; St-Armand/Philipsburg; Lansdowne; Queenston-Lewiston Bridge; Coutts; Pacific Highway) the following ports will follow suit:
- Woodstock Road
- St Stephen
- Stanstead
- St-Bernard-de-Lacolle
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Prescott
- Windsor/Detroit Tunnel
- Peace Bridge
- North Portal
- Emerson
- Abbotsford-Huntingdon
- Aldergrove
Border Services Officers (BSO) are expected to input personal contact information for persons exempt from quarantine, including their email address, principle phone number and secondary phone number (if applicable) into a database that is managed by PHAC. Once collected, the information will automatically be entered into the system and not have to be taken when the driver crosses next.
Travellers who refuses to provide their information will be advised by a BSO they could be subject to additional measures, such as a requirement to undergo a health assessment. They could also be charged with an offence under the Quarantine Act. Alternatively, local police in a specific jurisdiction can issue a ticket under the Contraventions Act. If the exempt traveller continues to refuse providing their information, they will be referred to a PHAC quarantine officer.
“Like everything else in this COVID-19 environment, events at the border as well as responses to mitigate the spread of the virus remain very fluid,” said Lak Shoan, Director of Policy and Industry Awareness Programs for CTA. “CTA will continue to update the industry accordingly and work with the governments to keep the economy moving while protecting the privacy and health and welfare of our professional driving community.”