Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister speaks during a news conference at the legislature, in Winnipeg, on March 30, 2020.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
The Manitoba government is expanding its travel restrictions to require all domestic travellers to self-isolate for 14 days after entering the province.
Since last June, only people arriving from areas east of Terrace Bay in Northern Ontario have been subject to the requirement.
But, starting Friday, all out-of-province arrivals will be covered by the public-health measure to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
“This is being done out of an abundance of caution to protect Manitobans,” Premier Brian Pallister said Tuesday.
The move is needed because of the growing spread of novel coronavirus variants and because of delays in vaccine supplies, he said.
There will be ongoing exceptions for people travelling for essential work and medical care, and a new exemption for residents of border communities who cross into Saskatchewan or Ontario for necessities.
Mr. Pallister also called on the federal government to tighten rules governing international travellers. He said a ban on non-essential trips, as suggested by Quebec Premier François Legault last week, should be on the table.
“We believe that a total travel ban may be something the federal government needs to consider seriously,” Mr. Pallister said.
“I respect that the federal government has to make this call and that’s why I’m not trying to be overly prescriptive with what Manitoba wants. ... I’m simply adding my voice to those of the premiers who have said, ‘Make a decision on this and doing nothing is not an option.”’
Mr. Pallister also revealed that he had disciplined James Teitsma, a Progressive Conservative caucus member, who travelled with his family to British Columbia in December.
The vacation did not contravene any formal public-health orders, but went against advice to avoid non-essential travel.
Mr. Pallister did not say what discipline Mr. Teitsma was subjected to, and Mr. Teitsma did not return requests for comment. He sits on cabinet and legislature committees and receives extra pay as chairman of one.
The Premier’s office later issued a statement that said one of Mr. Teitsma’s committee appointments was revoked as part of a cabinet shuffle in early January. A recently updated list of members of the cabinet committee on economic growth no longer includes Mr. Teitsma’s name.
Manitoba’s COVID-19 case count continued its downward trend Tuesday. Health officials reported 92 additional cases and five deaths.
Numbers have been dropping since late fall, shortly after the province brought in tight restrictions on public gatherings and store openings. Some of the measures were eased on the weekend to allow small social gatherings in private homes and non-essential store openings with limited capacity.
“It’s trending the right way again, but we still have a number of people in hospital ... so it still is a burden on the acute-care system,” said Dr. Jazz Atwal, acting deputy chief public-health officer.
Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew said he supports the government’s expanded travel restrictions, but said the province must build up intensive care units, which are running well above pre-pandemic capacity.
“Let’s use this time to make the investments in our health care system so that we can withstand what’s coming, potentially, as the pandemic drags on,” Mr. Kinew said.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is looking at stricter requirements at the border to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Canadian Press
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