COW - NHL Playoffs and Calgary Stampede - June 10, 2021

Key messages

• The Government of Canada’s top priority remains protecting the health and safety of Canadians.
• As Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, I have granted ten class-based national interest quarantine exemptions for professional sports leagues – five for the National Hockey League, one for Major League Baseball and four for Major League Soccer (for a total of 2,447 individuals).
• I recently approved a class-based national interest quarantine exemption in support of the NHL’s 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
• All class-based quarantine exemptions were granted following extensive consultations with the Minister of Health.
• The Government of Canada has also received a request for rodeo participants for the Calgary Stampede in July 2021.

NHL Playoffs

• Following a careful review by public health officials at every level of government, on June 6, 2021, I approved a class-based national interest exemption that will permit the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Playoffs to be played in both Canada and the United States, including the Stanley Cup Finals, if necessary.
• This exemption will allow for limited cross-border play, with a maximum of three crossings into Canada for the semi-finals and potentially the same number for the final series.
• Cross-border play must be conducted in a way that minimizes the importation and spread of COVID-19 in Canada.
• The NHL’s COVID Playoff Protocol will permit limited cross-border travel that is safeguarded by strict quarantining, a bubble, daily testing and a comprehensive protocol that will apply to all travelling NHL players and personnel. This includes contact tracing capacity, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, disinfection protocols and additional physical measures to limit human interaction.  
• If an individual breaches the conditions imposed, they no longer fall within the exemption and will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Calgary Stampede

• The Government of Canada has received a national interest quarantine exemption request for the Calgary Stampede, which is scheduled to take place from July 9-18, 2021 in Calgary.
• Stampede organizers have been working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to create a robust risk mitigation plan for the rodeo participants, the majority of whom would be travelling to Canada from the United States.
• This request is currently under review by the Government of Canada.

Supplementary messages

Background

• The Ministers Foreign Affairs, Public Safety and I have the authority to grant individual or class-based exemptions from the quarantine requirements in the national interest.
• We have used this national interest exemption authority in limited situations for class-based exemptions. Each decision is weighed carefully against the national interest, in order to protect the health and safety of Canadians and to mitigate the importation and spread of COVID-19. I have not issued any individual quarantine exemptions.
• I have granted certain professional sports leagues class-based quarantine exemptions. As work permit holders, these professional players and support staff were already exempt from travel/entry restrictions.
• These quarantine exemptions were granted following consultations with the Minister of Health and with endorsement from provincial and municipal public health authorities.
• These quarantine exemptions recognize the importance of professional sports for Canadian society and our economy. They are being implemented in a manner that will continue to emphasize protecting the health and safety of the players, personnel, spectators, as well as the Canadian public.

Supporting facts and figures

National interest quarantine exemptions

• The Minister granted ten class-based national interest exemptions from the quarantine requirements for professional sporting leagues:
  • Five class-based national interest exemptions from quarantine were granted to players and staff of the National Hockey League: one for the players and staff for the 2020 playoff season staff (granted on June 26, 2020), one for third party vendors and service providers (granted on July 15, 2020), one for return to practice in advance of the 2021 season in advance of regular season play (granted on December 24, 2020), one for in-season additions (granted on March 25, 2021), and one for staff, vendors, and broadcasting rights holders of the National Hockey League for the semi-final and final rounds of the playoffs (granted on June 6, 2021).
  • One class-based national interest exemption from quarantine was granted to players and staff of Major League Baseball for pre-season training only (granted on July 2, 2020).
  • Four class-based national interest exemptions from quarantine were granted to players and staff of Major League Soccer: one for pre-season training (granted on August 9, 2020), one for pre-playoff training (granted on November 10, 2020), one for pre-tournament practice for the Montreal Impact (granted on December 9, 2020), and one for pre-season training (granted on March 25, 2021).
• According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, these quarantine exemptions applied to a total of 2,447 individuals as follows:
  • 1,638 individuals from the National Hockey League
  • 20 individuals from Major League Baseball
  • 134 individuals from Major League Soccer for 2020 pre-season training
  • 104 individuals from Major League Soccer for pre-playoff training
  • 45 individuals from Major League Soccer for pre-tournament
  • 30 individuals from Major League Soccer for 2021 pre-season training
  • 207 individuals for from the National Hockey League for the semi-finals of the 2020-2021 playoffs and up to 269 persons should a Canadian team make it to the final round of the playoffs