Mayor Brown provided an update on the COVID-19 Emergency, which included the following:
- Number of COVID-19 cases is starting to decline
- Concerns regarding the impact of COVID-19 variants
- Progress on the vaccination program
- Implementation of new travel restrictions
Committee discussion took place with respect to recent travel restrictions to "sun destinations". Concerns were raised regarding the impact of these restrictions on people who need to travel for family emergencies, and the need to request that the Federal Government distinguish between leisure and essential travel.
A motion was introduced with the following operative clauses:
Therefore be it resolved that:
1. The Mayor write a letter on behalf of Council requesting that the federal government clearly identify the difference between leisure and essential travel;
2. Reverse the decision to ban flights to the Caribbean and Mexico on Canadian airlines; and,
3. Exempt residents who were out of the country for essential travel prior to the new travel restriction from the cost associated with the three-day quarantine and further, waive the cost of a three-day quarantine for those who are travelling for essential and humanitarian reasons.
Committee discussion on this matter included the following:
- Impact of the travel restrictions on the local community and concerns regarding the costs to travelers
- Intent of the travel restrictions to protect the public from COVID-19
- The need for further information on why the travel restrictions were implemented
- Indication that Dr. Loh, Medical Officer of Health for Peel Region, does not support exemptions to the travel restrictions due to COVID-19 challenges in those countries
- Suggestion that Dr. Loh be requested to address Council on this issue
- Potential negative impact of asking the Federal Government to reverse its decision
- Suggestion that the restrictions be consistently applied to all regions
At Committee's request, the motion was split and a recorded vote was taken on each of the clauses, with the results as follows:
1. The Mayor write a letter on behalf of Council requesting that the federal government clearly identify the difference between leisure and essential travel;
Yea (10): Mayor Patrick Brown, Regional Councillor Santos, Regional Councillor Vicente, Regional Councillor Palleschi, Regional Councillor Medeiros, City Councillor Bowman, City Councillor Williams , Regional Councillor Fortini, City Councillor Singh, and Regional Councillor Dhillon
Absent (1): City Councillor Whillans
Carried (10 to 0)
2. Reverse the decision to ban flights to the Caribbean and Mexico on Canadian airlines; and,
Yea (2): Regional Councillor Medeiros and City Councillor Williams
Nay (8): Mayor Brown, Regional Councillor Santos, Regional Councillor Vicente, Regional Councillor Palleschi, City Councillor Bowman, Regional Councillor Fortini, City Councillor Singh and Regional Councillor Dhillon
Absent (1): City Councillor Whillans
Lost (2 to 8)
3. Exempt residents who were out of the country for essential travel prior to the new travel restriction from the cost associated with the three-day quarantine and further, waive the cost of a three-day quarantine for those who are travelling for essential and humanitarian reasons.
Yea (2): Regional Councillor Medeiros and City Councillor Williams
Nay (8): Mayor Brown, Regional Councillor Santos, Regional Councillor Vicente, Regional Councillor Palleschi, City Councillor Bowman, Regional Councillor Fortini, City Councillor Singh and Regional Councillor Dhillon
Absent (1): City Councillor Whillans
Lost (2 to 8)
The motion carried as follows: