B.C. Premier calls COVID-19 testing rules for crossing U.S. border “an example of stupidity”

B.C. Premier John Horgan has strong feelings about the rules regarding travel to and from the U.S., calling the situation “an example of stupidity.” He plans to bring that up with the prime minister eventually, he said.

Specifically, Horgan doesn’t like that travelers into Canada need to be double vaccinated and provide a negative COVID-19 test.

“Double immunization and the prospect of third doses for vulnerable people, which is currently underway, I believe puts us in a very strong position to say that the testing regime that is currently in place is redundant, and that we can probably move on without having that,” he said.

“An example of stupidity” — that’s what Premier @jjhorgan calls the federal decision to require PCR tests of fully vaccinated Canadians returning home even if taken before they left. That’s part of my story on @CityNewsVAN tonight on the US-Canada land border reopening. #bcpoli

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 16, 2021

He was dissuaded from taking a work trip to Washington for 36 hours to meet the mayor of Seattle due to the restrictions.

“They said, ‘Well, you can get a test in Vancouver and that will cover you on the way back,’ and I thought, ‘What’s the point of having a test in Vancouver, going to Seattle, saying I’ve been tested within the past 36 hours, and then coming right back again? Why don’t I just get a test when I come home if I need one?'” said Horgan.

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“If we have double immunized traffic going back and forth across the border, then why would we need a testing regime? I think it’s excessive and I’m going to make that case to the prime minister.”

The premier is just one of many criticizing the federal government’s policy on mandated testing before entering Canada.