Reversal of travel restrictions still costly for affected temporary residents in Alberta

Canada's decision to impose and subsequently remove Omicron-related travel restrictions on 10 African countries has left some people in Alberta frustrated, scrambling and spending.

In late November, in response to the new COVID-19 variant of concern's surge worldwide, Canada imposed a ban on travellers from 10 African countries: Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who had been in those countries were allowed into Canada but had to quarantine for 14 days, while temporary residents couldn't get back into the country.

Amid a backlash against blanket travel bans from the World Health Organization (WHO) and others, Canada revoked its ban on Dec. 18.

CBC Calgary spoke with some temporary residents in Alberta who are affected.

Adebola Odebode says she felt helpless when Canada announced its travel restrictions in late November. Odebode — whose mother died from COVID-19 — and her brother, who lives in Ontario, waited a year to finally perform funeral rites they thought they would be able to attend.

"We couldn't do it immediately [when] she passed away because of travel restrictions. This time around we thought things were getting better and we found out just a few weeks before that [the new restrictions] happened," said Odebode.

"It feels like COVID has just affected our lives so much.… I lost my mom to COVID, and my family and I can't go home to give her a proper funeral because of COVID."

After cancelling her flights and postponing funeral plans in Nigeria, she says Canada's decision to reverse the travel restrictions was disappointing. It's put her family in a space of uncertainty. 

"It's impossible to plan because in three months' time, we don't know what will happen. If there is a more transmissible variant or more infectious variant of COVID, nobody really knows so it's difficult to plan ahead."

Nomai Emina was also forced to cancel a flight to Nigeria she had booked in April. However, once restrictions were reversed, Emina rebooked and flew out Tuesday, paying $1,000 more for the chance to see her parents after three years overseas. 

Emina has not seen her family since she moved to Edmonton for the chemical engineering program at the University of Alberta in 2018. As a co-op student, work experience is integrated into her degree. While she appreciates the opportunity for paid employment in her field, it also limits the time she has to travel.

"I can't leave any other time of the year because I'm a student all year round." said Emina. "I have to actually complete this to get my degree."

Outside of the financial cost, Emina is also aware of the risks of getting caught between borders.