Toronto – Canada may allow fully vaccinated travellers into the nation by early September, the country’s prime minister mentioned on Thursday, if the current trend in vaccination rate and public health conditions continue.

Justin Trudeau made the remarks in a call with Canadian provincial leaders, according to a readout of the call released by his office.

Trudeau also mentioned there have been ongoing discussions with the US to start permitting fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents into Canada for non-essential travel by mid-August.

“The Prime Minister noted that, if our current positive path of vaccination rate and public health conditions continue, Canada can be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travellers from all nations by early September,” according to a statement.

Cruise ships

Earlier on Thursday, Canada mentioned it’ll allow large cruise ships to visit once again beginning in November because the COVID-19 pandemic fades, however they must fully comply with public health requirements.

Canada’s Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, announced Thursday that the country’s cruise ship ban will end on Nov. 1 as the outlook of the COVID-19 pandemic “continues to improve.” 

The ban, which applied to cruise ships with more than 100 passengers, first went into effect in March 2020 and had been set to run through Feb. 28, 2022.

The policy change comes too late for this year’s summer cruising season, but Alghabra said the country will be ready for the 2022 cruising season.