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No More Expensive PCR Test Required for Travellers Entering Canada

Starting today travellers can take a rapid antigen test instead

Today is the day the Trudeau government eases some travel rules for people entering the country.

Starting today, travellers entering Canada can opt to take a rapid antigen test instead of an expensive PCR test.

The CBC reporting The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed on Friday the test must be taken no more than one day before a traveller's departing flight or planned arrival at the land border. 

The vice president of the CBSA's Travellers branch tells the CBC, "People must take the antigen test in the country they're departing from, and can only use one authorized for travellers. It can't be the take-home tests that we've seen here in our communities. It has to be done through a lab that will provide written confirmation a traveller is either negative or positive."

It was just last Friday, a group of southwestern Ontario border town mayors, including Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, held a media conference to demand the federal government  end all testing at land border crossings.

Diodati noting during the media event, "The rules keep changing and it's a labyrinth, so people are just going to choose not to come. They hear about the horror stories at the border."
 

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