MLive’s Ansar Khan reports that there’s news on the Tyler Bertuzzi-playing-in-Canada front:
Canada is planning to drop its COVID-19 vaccination requirement at the border for entry into the country, according to the Toronto Globe and Mail. The change will take effect on Sept. 30, the paper reported.
[Tyler] Bertuzzi was the only NHL player last season who opted not to get vaccinated for COVID-19. It prevented him from traveling to Canada. The Red Wings went 2-7 in Canada without Bertuzzi, who finished as their second-leading goal-scorer (30) and point-producer (62) in 68 games.
Detroit plays 10 games in Canada this season, the first on Dec. 23 at Ottawa.
Here’s the Globe and Mail’s Eric Atkins and Robert Fife’s report, which indicates that it’s not as simple as one might think:
The federal government plans to drop the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada by the end of September, the same day it ends random testing of arrivals and makes optional the ArriveCan app, The Globe and Mail has learned.
The changes, for arrivals at land, air and sea ports of entry, are planned for Sept. 30, but have yet to be finalized by cabinet, according to four sources The Globe is not naming because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The mask requirement for people on trains and planes will remain in place, at the direction of Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, according to two of the sources.
The aviation and travel industries have been pushing the government to relax the rules that cover international travel, saying they discourage visitors and are out of step with many other countries as the pandemic eases.
The United States requires all entrants to be vaccinated, and it is not known if the requirement will be lifted at the same time as Canada’s.
