'You're on your own': Sympathy in short supply for snowbirds complaining about new travel rules
Most winters, Judi Sussman and her husband Les load up their car with their dogs and drive to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. This year, with restricted travel at the borders, heading down south didn’t seem like a viable option, so the Toronto-based retirees stayed put.
“In this situation it seems imprudent to travel, especially with restrictions the government is laying on, she said to Yahoo Canada. “I mean I get it, the people down there seem very happy.”
Snowbirds — Canadians who winter in warm locales — are currently facing stricter protocols when it comes to travelling outside the country. Starting this week, anyone who is flying home from abroad must take a COVID-19 test once they arrive back in Canada. They also must spend up to three days of their 14-day quarantine in a government-approved hotel, at their own expense. The cost for these precautions is upwards of $2,000.
The news has caused a stir on social media, with many expressing disdain for anyone who feels entitled to travel to sun destinations during a pandemic.
I am a snowbird. Every year except this year. Stayed home at the request of the government and it would seem that wisdom does dictate.
You go south, against the advice of the government, and good sense, then the issue is with the traveller. And so should be the cost. TFB— ☘️🌺🌴🏝Diesel🌴🌺🏝☘️ (@galaxyhunter309) January 31, 2021
Brilliant. Snowbirds “demanding”. Will the “snowbirds” demand someone come and get them when they get sick? Will they demand the full force of an overworked health care system care for them when they come back sick?
“Snowbirds” - you’re on your own! Get a grip. No one is spared— Paul Green (@PaulGre16752768) February 1, 2021
I say any Snowbird travelling right now during a pandemic gets their CPP cut off. Grow some balls Trudeau #cdnpoli
— Alia (@MizzzAlia) February 1, 2021
They can be left out of vaccines too. Live on a ‘Snowbird’ cruise ship.
MV Entitlement— Takurua (@Takurua2) February 1, 2021
do people want us to actually feel bad for snowbirds?
— i'm short burger king (@colindpalmer) February 1, 2021
Listening to someone representing ‘snowbirds’ in Florida arguing that they should be exempt from quarantine rules upon return because, well, because. 🤬
— Dr. Tammy Landau (@Dr_Tammy_Landau) February 1, 2021
With all due disrespect: 🖕 the snowbirds and their collective sense of entitlement for travelling internationally and risking other people’s lives during a 13-month-and-counting global pandemic and expecting governments to be bent to their privileged wills https://t.co/kPiLmeeYDX
— Ꮢ𝔞𝔫 🐾 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸 (@ranaessance) February 1, 2021
Sympathy for breaking the #essentialtravel only order is not going to happen 🙅♀️ #sorrynotsorry #Snowbirds Were selfish and went on own in DECEMBER when we have been avoiding seeing loved ones all year! #NotMyProblem to feel sorry for them. https://t.co/XPECZU1dCl
— Evie (Or heyYou works too) (@EvaBackstrom) February 1, 2021
It does seem that Canadians, on the whole, can unite behind our desire to give the finger to snowbirds who are upset that they can't come and go as they please during a pandemic
— Rob (@robertguenette) February 1, 2021
"And when you commit to being a snowbird," he added, "you commit."
the entitlement— Renée Yoxon (they/them) (@reneeyoxon) January 31, 2021
Michael MacKenzie, executive director with the Canadian Snowbird Association, says despite the focus of recent media reports, about 75 per cent of their 115,000 members are staying put this year. And while his association supports point of entry COVID-19 testing and getting tested upon landing, they don’t support the mandatory hotel quarantine and $2,000 fee.
“The majority of COVID in Canada is due to community transmission,” he says. “If you test positive in the community, they send you home for two weeks. If you test negative before you get on your flight and you land in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, they send you to a hotel and charge you $2,000 and you stay there for a few days.”
Travel expert Barry Choi says people are going to do what they want to do, but it doesn’t help that the Canadian government appears to be giving mixed messaging.
“The land border is closed to the U.S., but you can legally fly there, so it kind of contradicts itself,” he says. “The new changes with quarantine and the hotels, they’re telling people not to travel but they’re letting people in and out. If the government really wants to get things under control, they should maybe consider a longer quarantine or ban incoming flights completely.”
While she doesn’t regret her decision to stay in Canada for the winter, Sussman does envy all her friends and family in the U.S., who’ve already received their COVID-19 vaccinations.
“They’re living their life again,” she says. “They’re being cautious but they’re living their life. When I look at that, I think, ‘yeah, that would be nice.’”