Ontario calls for stricter rules on entry to Canada
The appeal drew sharp criticism from the federal government.
Security Minister Bill Blair admits Canada's travel restrictions are now among the strictest in the world. The country recently extended a ban on entry for foreigners and a ban on air travel to India and Pakistan. As a result of the restrictions, air traffic has dropped by 95%. The land border with the United States was also closed.
But some officials believe that's not enough either. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called on the federal government to make the measures even tougher, but authorities have responded rather sharply.
Bill Blair commented on Ford's letter, saying government decisions would be based on "scientific facts".
"If provinces like Ontario want to restrict travel even more, they need to clarify exactly what measures they're going to impose," Blair added.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Ford of "playing politics" and said federal authorities were willing to work with Ontario individually, but never got a response.
Blair, on the other hand, urged Ford to listen to provincial health experts. Doug Ford has already asked the government to ban foreign students from coming to Ontario, but negotiations between provincial and federal authorities have gone nowhere.
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