Nothing says ‘back to normal’ than long line-ups at the border.
As of last Saturday (Oct. 1), ArriveCAN is no longer required to come back into Canada.
It was about time ArriveCAN was shelved. It wasn’t stopping COVID any longer and didn’t make much sense.
I was given a test coming back from Point Roberts one time, but I couldn’t get an online appointment for three days. By the time I took the test, I’d contracted COVID, likely from this side of the border. I did my quarantine, got over COVID and went back to work.
I was pretty diligent about filling out ArriveCAN, so much so that I even remembered my password, but on occasion, it would slip my mind. I think it’s pretty easy to forget that running to the Point is considered international travel. It’s not really the USA, it’s the Point.
Driving back, I’d suddenly remembered, pulled over and filled it out quickly. On occasion, it wouldn’t be until I was at the booth. I was given my warnings, but it seemed pretty ridiculous that, just because I didn’t fill out the app, the government would have me stay home for 14 days.
ArriveCAN wasn’t stopping people from going across the border with COVID either. I know a couple of people who came back from Las Vegas and the next day came down with it. Then others in their party got it. Unless you knew you had it, it didn’t do much to stop it at the border any longer.
I could see that originally, when we didn’t know what was going to happen with COVID, there was reason for that level of concern. Back then, you may not have even known someone who had it. Now, it’s hard to find people who hasn’t had it. The next step is getting the new booster so as to not get it again.
For the most part, COVID is a few days isolated, rest and liquids and back on your feet. While it’s still a serious concern for some, for most it’s an inconvenience.
Now that ArriveCAN is no longer required, the long line-ups at the border will be back.
If only our Nexus offices in Canada would open so we could avoid them again.
Brad Sherwin, MBA is a long-time resident of South Delta, and has over 30 years’ experience in marketing, public relations and business strategy. He teaches post-secondary marketing, coaches hockey goalies and is past president of Deltassist.
