‘I can’t get home’: Mother and son stranded in Vancouver after new travel rules impact medical exemptions

An Ontario resident and her son are scrambling to find a way home before the holidays after being denied boarding due to the federal government’s swift implementation of new travel restrictions.

“They said ‘No, you can’t fly out. We are not accepting these medical exemptions’,” said Stephanie Giordano in a phone interview with CityNews from her Vancouver hotel room. Her son Dorian, who has an auto-immune disease, is unable to get vaccinated. His work as an actor involves occasional trips out of the province, requiring him to present a medical exemption letter issued by his doctor. A letter he carries with him everywhere he goes.

But when the pair arrived at Vancouver International Airport on Saturday with his medical exemption, Giordano’s proof of double vaccination, and both their pre-boarding negative COVID-19 molecular test in hand, they were informed that they were missing an extra step that came into effect on Nov. 30.

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“I called Med Desk Air Canada and the first person I spoke to informed me that now I had to fill out a form 21 days prior to my intended departure,” said Giordano.

“Including getting Dorian’s doctor to fill out all new paperwork which I would have to submit. Then their doctor at their centre would decide whether or not Dorian could be approved to fly and if his medical exemption would be accepted.”

The Toronto resident called WestJet and was informed of the same “fitness for air travel” form that would have to be completed for those submitting medical exemption letters.

“I was shocked because this was all the documentation we needed to fly into Vancouver, so why is it now not being accepted?” she tells CityNews “Why was this new mandate not grandfathered in for those who already were out of the country?”, or in their case, out of province.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said exemptions will be difficult and onerous to obtain when the policies were first introduced in October, but the government does allow for some rare cases, which Giordano says her son falls within.

According to Government of Canada regulations, air passengers are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and it will be up to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and airline personnel to confirm the status of vaccination.

As of Nov. 30, anyone who hasn’t started or completed the COVID-19 vaccination process could be denied boarding if they don’t meet limited criteria for exemptions. According to the government’s website, airlines are obligated by Transport Canada to have passengers, that are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as a specific confirmed allergy, submit a form for clearance.

Travellers who think they may be eligible for this type of temporary exemption should:

• Access the form through their airline or railway company, as of Nov. 30, 2021;
• Have it signed by a Canadian licensed medical doctor or nurse practitioner;
• submit the form for review up to three weeks prior to departure and in accordance with the airline or railway company’s exemption approval process.

“The exemption forms were provided by the Government of Canada but we were only permitted to communicate Transport Canada’s requirements, including the forms,” confirmed Peter Fitzpatrick, Manager of Corporate Communications at Air Canada, in an email to CityNews, “As of the coming into force of the regulations, which was on Nov. 30. Hence the timing of the change.”

Giordano believes that the government should have provided ample time before implementing new protocols on medical exemptions that have essentially left them stranded on the other side of the country, unable to board a plane home until they receive approval. This could take up to three weeks, risking the possibility of not returning home until Christmas.

“I would note that although we stipulate 21 days, we will process and review these sooner than that under exceptional or urgent situations ​and we will reach out to attempt to assist these customers,” confirmed Fitzpatrick.

“We have lost over $2000 in flights, have to pay for lodging and food,” said the mother of two, who is now looking at what other options are available in hopes of making it home for the holidays.

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It comes as the province remains closed off by road due to recent flood damage. Several B.C. highways are open to essential travel only, and the only route to leave Vancouver and travel east is to go through the U.S.

It’s unclear if Giodarno’s medical exemption will be accepted at the border, as only fully vaccinated travellers are allowed to cross unless they have the correct documentation to show otherwise.

Giordano says that while she is disappointed with Air Canada for not informing their passengers of the new rules related to medical exemptions, she hopes that by sharing her story she can prevent this from happening to another family in the coming weeks.