Federal government lists COVID-19 testing services abroad after new rule strands many travellers

Transport Canada is offering more details this weekabout where travellers can get a COVID-19 test abroad and what happens if they're caught using a fake one after a new testing rule for passengers flyingto Canada causedwidespreadconfusion and anxiety.

The new government policy, which took effectJan.7, requires that all air passengers five years and older provide documentation of a negative laboratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test no longer than three days before flying to Canada. The government offered an exemption of 96 hours, or four days,to travellers from certain countries, but that additional 24-hour window is set to expire Jan. 14.

Some travellers have struggled to find legitimate laboratory tests becausethe government did not initially offer a list oflocations where the tests could be obtained.

"There has been a great deal of confusion amongpassengers in terms of their obligations," said Mike McNaney, president and CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada. "People have been showing up ... unaware that they needed to get the test, or were unable to get a test, or perhaps did get a test, but it was the wrong test."

Five days after the implementation of the new rule, the federal governmentlaunched a website for passengers travelling to Canada that listsaccredited testing sites in some countries.

WATCH: Ottawa provides information on where to obtain COVID-19 tests abroad:

Ottawa provides information on foreign COVID-19 test, announces fine for fake tests

4 years ago

Duration 2:00

Transport Canada has released a list of places outside the country to get a COVID-19 test before coming to Canada and announced a $5,000 fine for travellers who attempt to use a fake test to get back into the country.

That happened too late to helpTodd Warren, whowas in the Dominican Republic with his three teenage children when the testing rule was introduced. With no guidance from the government, he said, he was leftscrambling to find a legitimate testing service.

Bogus tests, high prices

"It was a bit stressful when we were down there," Warren told CBC News via FaceTime from his home outside Ottawa, where he is waiting outhis 14-day quarantine.

Warren said that whennews emerged of the newCOVID-19 testing rule, he started to see local people taking advantage of the situation by selling fake tests on the beach for about $3 to $5 US.

"I guess word on the street was that this was very profitable," he said. "So they were telling their friends, and you saw people all over the beach with ...laptops.

"There was no testing done. So basically it was a template, a PDF file that had where you just gave them your name and that was it. They would email it to you."

He said he eventually found legitimate tests at a clinic but the prices fluctuated.

"So they started off, I don't know the exact number,but it was around $1,000and we got it down to $79. And he said he was giving us a deal because there was four of us," said Warren.

"We got lucky there. The people that went before us actually ended up spending $1,500 andthey didn't know that they were able to negotiate the price."

Warren and his kids received their negative test results justhours before their flight home departed.Others haven't been so fortunate.

Hundreds of passengers left behind

WestJet reports that, in the first four days after the federal government announced the new testing rule, itrefused to board363 travellers because some had paid forillegitimatetests, some hadn't obtained tests at all and some had failed to get their testing donewithin the required three-daywindow.

Air Transat said it refused to board148 passengers over those four days due to problems with testing, while another300 people simply failed to check in for their flights.

WATCH: Minister Marc Garneau announces new testing rule for air travellers

Garneau announces new rules on COVID-19 tests for air passengers

4 years ago

Duration 1:10

Transport Minister Marc Garneau, along with other ministers, announced that all travellers must show a negative PCR test before boarding a plane heading for Canada.

CBC News has askedAir Canada and Sunwingto report the number of passengers they've refused toboarddue to testing problems. Air Canada said it didn't know the number andSunwing has yet to reply.

McNaney said that, byintroducing the new rule in a rush, the government hasleft airlines holding the bag.

"So carriers have been working very hard to try and re-accommodate passengers to change itineraries, to change flight schedules so that they will be able to get a test completed in the time frame necessary," he said."And whatwe have also been doing is providing passengers with as much information as we can on testing locations."

Transport Canada also has directeda warning at travellers who use fake tests, and atairlines thatconsciouslyacceptthose test results.

"If an air carrier suspects that a traveller has provided false or misleading information related to their test results, they are required to notify Transport Canada," said a department spokesperson.

"Air carriers failing to comply with the requirements of Transport Canada's Interim Order or other regulatory requirements under the Aeronautics Act could be subject to a fine of up to $5,000."

The testing requirement is in addition to the existing mandatory 14-day quarantine period for returning travellers. The travel restrictionson most foreign nationals also remain in place.