“Honestly we do this just to discourage travel” – Quarantine Hotels for the Fully-Vaccinated

Despite Canadians receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and these vaccines being touted as our way out of the overbearing and economically crippling lockdown measures, it seems that the bureaucracy enforcing these measures is more interested in keeping the rules in place than actually protecting public health.

On May 24th, an Ontario front-line worker arrived at Pearson International Airport in Toronto after a weekend trip to the North East United States. A trip that was part work part escape from provincial lockdowns. When talking to the Canadian customs official upon return, the front line worker familiar with current health provisions, presented the following documentation.

1. Proof that both vaccines were received, the second in early April 2021.

2. A negative covid test prior to leaving Canada.

3. A second negative test results in 24 hours prior to leaving the United States.

4. A receipt for $200 for the Covid test in the United States.

5. Proof of work showing employment as a front-line worker.

6. A copy of the restrictions and why an exemption would apply.

The front-line worker has asked to remain anonymous due to nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers being fired or having their jobs threatened for criticizing any federal or provincial public health measures, no matter how counterproductive.

Despite the documents presented, the customs agent referred the individual to a public health official who informed this front-line worker that they were to be taken against their will to a quarantine facility. When the front-line worker refused to go along with the ridiculousness of having to isolate in a quarantine prison at their own expense when they cannot contract nor transmit the virus, they were still threatened with a $3,000 fine despite trying to explain the situation to the public health workers. Even after telling the public health official “I don’t care, give me the fine I’m leaving.” the official continued to insist this front line worker be held in a quarantine facility. 

The frontline worker told The National Telegraph (TNT) that during the hour-long highly stressful confrontation, the healthcare officials seemed to only be able to regurgitate public health measures as justification for their actions, ignoring that the front line worked is well aware of the provisions and restrictions which is why so sufficient documentation and repeated test result were presented.

Eventually, the frontline worker, in this case, was given an exception due to other health concerns which they were forced to disclose. “It was humiliating. I had to disclose my personal and private medical health issues to avoid being put in a COVID Prison for three days. They are my private health records not the business of some bureaucrat at the airport,” the frontline worker told The National Telegraph.

After being granted an exemption if and only if the front line worker tested negative for yet another COVID-19 test result, a repeat of the test this individual paid $200 USD for just 24 prior to leaving the United States, and as another reminder, this individual was fully vaccinated for almost eight weeks. 

The frontline worker told TNT the most striking statement was made by the Canadian health official during the long exchange at the airport. When the frontline worker asked, “why are you doing this?  I have all the provisions, multiple tests and I have been fully vaccinated for almost two months, why are you doing this?”  the official responded, “Honesty we do this just to discourage travel.” This shocking statement ran a chill down the back of the person being subjected to this authoritarian process.   

This may be one of the clearest signs that the lockdowns and overbearing public health orders across Canada are not in the interest of public health but in the interest of the government itself and some warped bureaucratic method of behavioral modification. It seems to indicate the government’s motive is to train the citizenry to have the same fear of traveling as they would going to prison by forcing them, against their will, to experience prison at their own expense for three days. You can travel but do so at your own risk. 

Ironically the recently appointed Minister of Transportation MP Omar Alghabra himself was once barred from traveling to the US amid terrorism concerns and suspected affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and other extremists Islamist causes. This was such a concerning matter that when Justin Trudeau originally tried to appoint MP Omar Alghabra to a cabinet position in 2015, he was vetoed by the RCMP due to the same terrorism concerns.

The Prime Minister shortly thereafter replaced the RCMP Commissioner and Alghabra now sits as cabinet member as the minister of Transportation. Could these traveling restrictions be influenced by having someone linked to global extremism in one of the top positions in the Canadian government? Is this about healthcare, arbitrary enforcement of the rules or is this about crushing the will of the citizenry? MP Alghabra has long refused any communication with The National Telegraph or other publications that would like to ask direct questions about his controversial associations. 

The blame is not limited to just Trudeau. While the Trudeau government is the architect of travel restrictions, Conservative Premier Doug Ford is the architect of provincial lockdowns in Ontario where this incident occurred. Many members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party have indicated that Doug Ford refuses to even engage with MPPs in his caucus, something echoed by New Blue MPP Belinda Karahalios. Perhaps Doug Ford does not even know how fed up and frustrated many of his former supporters are, or worse, perhaps he does not even care. 

The tragedy of this entire airport situation is how easily Canadians are willing to give up their civil liberties to anyone in government out of fear. Blind adherence to public health orders while very few are speaking up about these issues and calling for the provincial lockdowns and federal travel restrictions to finally end.