Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question again today is for the government leader in the Senate. Senator Gold, it is not only truckers who oppose restrictions that are no longer supported by science. Canada’s two main airlines, WestJet and Air Canada, have joined with Toronto Pearson International Airport to call for an end to the current mandatory PCR testing for fully vaccinated passengers upon arrival.

Canada is the only G7 country that continues to demand pre‑departure and on-arrival PCR testing. The CEO of WestJet, Harry Taylor, said recently, “. . . Canada remains stagnant in its approach and continues to make travel inaccessible and punitive for Canadians and inbound tourists.”

WestJet cut 20% of its flights in March, and Air Canada has reportedly cut over 40% of its flights next month.

Leader, when will the Trudeau government catch up to the rest of the G7 and present a path forward for airlines and Canada’s entire travel and tourism sector?

Senator Plett: It is sad that we can’t at least touch on the answers and say “I don’t know” if the answer isn’t known. That would be an appropriate answer.

The Leader of the Opposition in the other place said to the Prime Minister:

Prime Minister, you can’t take science and put it on the table when it suits you and take it off when it doesn’t suit you.

The Prime Minister has constantly been saying that everything he is doing is scientific. Science now says that what we’re doing is not right, and he doesn’t change. You don’t have an answer. You hardly even touch on the question. That was as bad as the minister yesterday when he didn’t even touch on the question.

Senator Gold, WestJet, Air Canada and Toronto Pearson Airport are also calling for an end to mandatory quarantines for asymptomatic travellers awaiting test results upon arrival. Leader, most families can’t afford lengthy quarantines. They don’t want to hear that the government cares about them. They want to see what you are doing to show you care about us.

When, leader? Give us a date. If not today, give us a date when we come back. When will this Trudeau government end these ineffective and costly restrictions?