In the lead-up to a call between the Atlantic premiers on Wednesday night, there have been conflicting reports about when an Atlantic travel bubble might re-open and of which provinces could be included.
On Wednesday morning, Radio-Canada reported that April 19 could be a target date for the reopening of the Atlantic travel bubble. The French-language news service cited an unnamed source from the New Brunswick government indicating the province could reopen its borders to at least the two other Maritime provinces on that date.
The Atlantic travel bubble, which lasted from July 2020 until late fall, eased a requirement for travellers from other provinces to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in each province. P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador exited the bubble on Nov. 23, while New Brunswick left on Nov. 26.
But staff from the office of P.E.I. Premier Dennis King did not confirm April 19 date as a target for the reopening of the Atlantic bubble. A representative told The Guardian the date had been discussed amongst the Atlantic premiers but had not been fully agreed upon.
Representatives from Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs similarly did not confirm the April 19 date.
“Dates are being considered but that will first be discussed among the Atlantic premiers and our own COVID cabinet committee and decided by cabinet,” said an e-mailed statement from Nicolle Carlin, director of communications for New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs.
A representative from the Office of Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said that province does not yet have a targeted date for joining a reopened Atlantic bubble.
“I’m quite hopeful that we can get there in the timelines that they are discussing,” Premier Andrew Furey said during a media briefing Wednesday afternoon.
“Our case numbers are going down, our positivity rates are slower than some of the other provinces within the Atlantic region.”
The Atlantic premiers are scheduled to speak 6 p.m. Wednesday. The Atlantic bubble is expected to figure prominently in the call.
Radio-Canada had reported that New Brunswick officials believed a “Maritime bubble” could open first, with Newfoundland and Labrador joining at a later date.
But when asked by a reporter whether he believed it realistic that Newfoundland and Labrador could join an Atlantic bubble in April, Furey said: “I do.”
All Atlantic provinces have experienced outbreaks of COVID-19 since the start of the year, some of which have been associated with a variant of the virus. Last week, P.E.I. emerged from a modified circuit breaker following an outbreak of cases that began in late February, some of which involved the variant.
