Exemptions exist for British Columbians needing to drive to U.S. for fuel, food

Given the exceptional circumstances in B.C. after catastrophic flooding, the federal government is assuring people who may need to cross into the U.S. that some COVID-19 exemptions exist when they come back home.

According to a statement from the Canada Border Services Agency, given what’s happening in B.C., “travellers and essential workers who must travel to or through the United States to get to their residence in Canada, access necessities such as food and fuel, or ensure that essential services and economic supply chains continue, are exempt from the COVID-19 pre-arrival test, the test in Canada, and quarantine requirements.”

This comes as many highways in the province remain shuttered due to mudslides and flooding impacts. Some roads have reopened, but people are being asked to limit their travel to essential reasons only.

Given the situation in BC, travellers and essential workers who must travel to or through the USA for essential reasons (food, fuel, supply chains) are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements. These exemptions do not apply to non-essential travel. pic.twitter.com/U1lELIJQE7

— Canada Border Services Agency (@CanBorder) November 21, 2021

“Yesterday, I spoke to Minister Mike Farnworth, public safety minister and interim premier in the province, about concerns with the fuel shortages in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver area,” Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Sunday. “He asked if it would be possible for individuals who currently reside close to border communities to cross over into the United States in order to fuel their vehicles and upon return be exempt from the PCR requirement. This is something that I believe can be accommodated under the exemption regulations that currently exist.”

The exemptions would, in theory, allow British Columbians to drive into the U.S. to fill up on fuel or buy groceries amid supply chain impacts on this side of the border and come back without having to get a COVID-19 test or quarantine.

“These exemptions do not apply to those engaged in discretionary (non-essential) travel,” the CBSA confirms by email to CityNews.

It admits it cannot speak for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, but adds the CBSA is “working closely with our partners, including USCBP, to facilitate passage during these exceptional times.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the CBP said travel requirements into the U.S. had not changed. It’s unclear if the rules have been updated to reflect exemptions outlined by Canada’s border agency.

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Related article: Feds to scrap testing requirements for shorter U.S. trips

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“Individuals entering the U.S. must possess a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document, such as a valid passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card as well as proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination,” the CPB’s previous statement reads.

All entry decisions remain up to the border guard’s discretion.

Exemptions to testing and quarantine requirements have been in place for several days for British Columbians who are in need of crossing into the U.S. to transit through and back into Canada. The clarification from the CBSA on other essential reasons that are exempt comes as many people have taken to panic buying at grocery stores, and as fuel supply issues have been brought on by weather impacts.

Meanwhile, Canada is set to scrap testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers returning to this country from short trips at the end of the month.

Supply chain issues

The BC Trucking Association, province, and other agencies have assured all is being done to ensure goods and services are still able to get to B.C., despite travel troubles brought on by road closures.

People are being asked to refrain from stocking up on items.

“There are tens of thousands of British Columbians who are displaced, who have been evacuated, who can’t go home. There are those who just managed to get there. Let’s just take a step back for a moment and realize what we have, and take a look around and think, ‘Do I really need to go do that?’” BC Trucking Association President and CEO Dave Earle said of panic buying.

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Related articles: 

• British Columbians urged to stop panic buying amid supply chain issues

• B.C. defends order restricting fuel for parts of province as stations run dry

• B.C. storm disrupts supply chain, grocery store aisles go bare

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“There is enough supply in terms of equipment, in terms of goods. But we can’t keep hoarding and bulk buying. People are living paycheck to paycheck and not everyone can afford to bulk buy,” added Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman.

People in parts of southwest B.C., Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast are currently limited to 30 litres per visit to gas stations.

-With files from Greg Bowman, Robyn Crawford, and Lasia Kretzel