Travel exemptions offered to students, foreign workers as Canada closes border to stop COVID-19

Canada has shut the border to all non-essential travellers, but there will be exceptions for some foreign nationals coming to Canada to work, study or live permanently.

Theexemptions include seasonal agricultural workers, fish and seafood workers, caregivers and all other temporary foreign workers, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

On Saturday, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeaustressed the importance of the foreign workers to Canada's food chain.

"Temporary foreign workers are absolutely necessary for our farms and our agribusiness, filling over 60,000 jobs across the country," she said.

"Our very food security depends on them."

But IRCC warns that people planning to come to Canada under these exceptions should not travel immediately. The government will announce when the exemptions are formally in place, which is expected some time next week.

Travel exemptions also include international students who already held a study permit or had been approved for one whentravel restrictions kicked in on March 18.

The border to the U.S. closed at midnight, and as part of measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, the government also announced Friday that asylum seekers trying to enter Canada outside official border points would be turned back. That move would effectively halt asylum seekers from crossing into the country at Roxham Road in Quebec under Canada's Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA).

The STCArequiresasylum seekers to make their refugee claims in the first "safe" country they come to, whether it's Canada or the U.S., but one of the exceptions allows persons to make a claim in the other country if they enter outside an official border point.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair's office confirmed to CBCthat other exceptions in theSTCAthat apply to people trying to enter at official points of entry are also suspended.

"The changes that are being put in place mean that theQuarantine Actprovisions take precedence over IRPA(Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) and the STCA," said a statement from Blair's office.

The only people who will be allowed to proceed with a refugee claim are:

• A U.S. citizen.
• A stateless habitual resident of the U.S.
• Foreign national parents or guardians of a minor U.S. citizen who are accompanying them in making a claim.
• An unaccompanied foreign nation minor.

The statement says this is applicable for anywhere on the border, whether or not it is an official port of entry. "All other refugee claimants will be directed back to the U.S.," the statement reads.

Breach of international law

The reciprocal agreement on irregularmigrants, which Trudeau calledan "exceptional" and temporary measure, was signed with the U.S. on Friday. The development came just one day after the government announced all border-crossers would be under quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, and that the federal government was looking for space to shelter the arrivals.

Amnesty International Canada called it a "24-hour policyabout-face" anda "shamefulbreach of international law" that risks further endangering lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is beyond disappointing and disgraceful," said Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, in a statement.

The decision could furtherinflame misconceptionsandracism rather than offering reassuranceandleadership, he said.

"When it comes to refugees,Canadais stepping back at a time whenwe need to step forward," Neve said.