June 4, 2021, Ottawa, Ontario, The Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Services and Procurement, issued the following statement calling on the Trudeau Liberals to put forward metrics to safely reopen areas of federal jurisdiction:

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Conservatives have been calling for strong border measures. Now, we are well over a year into our fight against COVID-19 and provinces across our country have put forward clear strategies and metrics for their safe reopening plans.

“Yet, at the federal level, there is no plan. Experts from the government’s own COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel have said the current system of managing the border is unfair, inconsistent, and not based on science. This panel has also suggested science-based metrics on federal restrictions for the government to consider.

“Many families and loved ones have been separated by border closures for well over a year. Travel and tourism businesses are struggling, with no clear end in sight. As vaccines roll out in Canada, it is the obligation and responsibility of this Liberal government to articulate what metrics will be used to safely allow these things to resume.

“Today, Canada’s Conservatives are calling on the Liberal government to put forward what benchmarks will be used for safely lifting COVID-19 restrictions within areas of federal jurisdiction. The Liberal government must also immediately develop a system to better detect variants of concern of COVID-19, end the failed hotel quarantine program, and actually consult provincial governments on these programs.

“Canadians can’t afford more excuses from this Liberal government. Only Canada’s Conservatives are pushing for a better pandemic response. There is only one party who will secure the future for Canadians – Canada’s Conservatives.”
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