As the federal government tells Canadians to stay home, one government agency is helping Canadians get ready for “winter vacation.”
“Are you planning a winter vacation but don’t have a valid passport? Don’t wait, apply now!” read the Friday afternoon tweet from Passport Canada, the federal department responsible for issuing passports.
The tone-deaf tweet is in direct contradiction to the federal government’s standing advice, which is to “avoid non-essential travel outside Canada.”
The Government of Canada travel advisories page contains notices of limited international transportation options, closed borders, and warnings that if you leave the country, you could have trouble returning.
The tweet could have been scheduled to post in times where travel was not off the table. Regardless, Canadians took turns roasting Passport Canada.
The government travel advisories clearly state that should you ignore the warnings and leave Canada, you may have difficulty obtaining essential products and services or face sudden movement restrictions and quarantine at your own expense.
In some regions, like much of the Greater Toronto Area, Canadians are being told not to travel any farther than their local Costco or a trip around the block.
Canadians returning home from abroad are presently required to quarantine for 14 days in a place where they will not encounter a vulnerable person.
Inbound travellers must also submit their travel information, quarantine plan and a COVID-19 symptom self-assessment via the ArriveCAN app.
Failure to comply with the new standards could lead to delays at the border for questioning and fines of up to $1,000.
