OTTAWA, ON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, issued this statement on his participation at the G7 Transport Ministers' Meeting:
"I was pleased to virtually gather with my counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union today. Collectively, we share the same goal for a safe and gradual re-opening of international travel and tourism.
"As the world is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic that is evolving, the Government of Canada has implemented a multilayered approach for essential international travel that focused on protecting the health, safety, and security of all Canadians.
"Everyone has a role to play to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year, much has been done to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 across all transportation modes. Transportation workers in Canada and across the world have stepped up to ensure that essential goods, vaccines and critical personal protective equipment are delivered during these difficult times, and I am grateful for this work.
"During our meeting today, G7 Transport Ministers recognized that travel not only connects people to family and friends, it also supports the global economy by facilitating business, trade, and tourism. To this end, we have committed to working on a common set of principles to guide the resumption of international travel when it's safe to do so.
"At the centre of this effort must be a coordinated approach for testing and a common platform for recognizing the vaccinated status of travellers. As we work to build back better, the establishment of a system that will protect our privacy and personal information, and that will be accessible, fair, and equitable is imperative. We must apply lessons learned from innovative technologies to identify long-term, sustainable solutions and expand upon them globally.
"Ultimately, a safe recovery will require an inclusive approach that reaches beyond the G7 and includes working with other countries and with international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Maritime Organization, and World Health Organization.
"As G7 Transport Ministers, we have a leading role to play in advancing a new global framework for international travel that will be essential to safely resume the free movement of people and goods, and the return to a barrier-free global travel environment."
SOURCE Transport Canada
Allison St-Jean, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, [email protected]; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, [email protected], 613-993-0055
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