The government is reportedly due to announce changes to the border testing regime today (17 March). Source: oksana.perkins/Shutterstock.

Reports suggesting Canada’s government is preparing to announce the removal of pre-entry testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers have been welcomed by Canada’s land border duty free businesses.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, CBC News and Reuters have said the need for travellers to test for Covid-19 before entering Canada will be removed at the country’s airports and land border crossings by the end of the month.

While the Federal government last month removed mandatory rules to show a negative PCR test upon entering Canada, travellers are currently required to present proof of a negative antigen or molecular test before crossing the border or boarding a flight.

“The news that fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to be tested for Covid-19 at the land border will allow border businesses like land border duty free stores to get on the road to recovery,” said FDFA in a statement. “This could not be more welcomed news and we are grateful to the federal government for hearing our plea and having our back as we continue to struggle to recover.”

As reported, land border elected mayors from British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada had earlier this month penned an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling on government to jettison all testing requirements for double-jabbed travellers at the border.

This would help to alleviate what has been a painful few years for businesses since the pandemic began.

The association is aligned to the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, which has been lobbying government concertedly to remove barriers at the border and support the beleaguered tourism industry by extending the Tourism and Recovery Hospitality Program (THRP).

The FDFA is the national association representing the interests of Canada’s the 33 land border duty free shops.