Professional athletes score border exemptions in the name of national interest

Four national interest exemptions to COVID-19 border restrictions, covering more than 1,300 professional athletes, have been issued by the federal immigration minister, his office confirmed.

The details came after MPs at the House of Commons immigration committee were told by departmental officials that the exemptions had been issued.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino's office was forced to clarify late Wednesday the details of the national interest exemptions he's authorized after the number surfaced at a House of Commons immigration committee hearing earlier in the day.

Mendicino was grilled on how many people had been allowed into Canada using the exemption, which admits those who don't qualify under current COVID-19 related restrictions, or to skip the mandatory 14-day quarantine when they arrive.

Who has access to that program has been a source of public debate, especially throughout the summer and fall as thousands of families placed sustained public pressure on Mendicino to loosen the border restrictions to allow more families to reunite.

Several ministers and senior public health officials can authorize exemptions.

When asked Wednesday by Conservative MP Raquel Dancho how many exemptions he had authorized, Mendicino deferred to his departmental officials, who told the committee 1,300 were granted.

His office later said the official "misspoke" and the figure reflects the 1,354 people covered by four national interest exemptions Mendicino approved: two for the National Hockey League (one for players, the second for team officials,) one for pre-season training for Major League Baseballand one for Major League Soccer.

They were all exempt from quarantine because their leagues had COVID-19 mitigation plans cleared by public health.

Minister to review cases

How the exemptions have been used is one of several issues being raised as MPs examine the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the immigration system.

The initial border closure rules meant that only essential workers and a very limited list of family members of citizens of permanent residents could enter Canada.

Familymembers not covered by those exemptions, including adult children, common-law spouses, grandparents and siblings became increasingly vocal about being shut out, noting there wasn't enough freedom given even for compassionate cases, such as family members being near death.

Mendicino relented in October andlaunched a new program to facilitate entry for more family membersand a compassionate program.Later,he also pledged application decisions would be made within 14 days.

Opposition MPs pressed him Wednesday on that commitment, with both the NDP and Conservatives saying they were aware of many people who were not receiving decisions by that deadline, nor any guidance from the department on when they might.

Mendicino promised to review specific cases.

About 19,000 of 29,000 requests have been decided upon so far, according to the immigration department. And about 80 per cent of the requests have been completed within the 14-day period.The remainingapplications areeither incomplete or have other issues.

Processing time is currently around 11 daysand an additional team of 30 staff were added to the program last week.