Photo: The Canadian Press Transport Minister Omar Alghabra speaks to members of the media after tabling legislation in the House of Commons, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in Ottawa. Canada’s transport minister says after a briefing with the country’s top doctor, the government is still strongly encouraging people to wear masks on planes and trains — but not making it a requirement. Omar Alghabra says he attended a briefing by public health chief Theresa Tam this morning. He says the government will continue to follow doctors’ advice and maintain the recommendation for now. The minister says he wears a mask when he travels by plane and that it is polite to do so. Last week, during a virtual briefing, Tam said the “increased growth” of COVID-19 variants, influenza and the rise of respiratory syncytial virus are challenging the health system in several parts of the country. On October 1, all entry restrictions for COVID-19 were lifted by the federal government, including the quarantine for unvaccinated foreign travelers and mask orders for anyone entering Canada.
