Two Travellers Were Fined Nearly $20K Each For Using Fake COVID-19 Documents At Pearson

Two travellers from the United States have been fined almost $20,000 each after they were caught breaking a number of Canada's travel rules.

In a notice shared on July 30, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed that multiple fines had been issued to two passengers arriving in Toronto Pearson from the U.S. the week of July 18.

Each traveller received four fines for "non-compliance with entry requirements," totalling an eye-watering $19,720 per person.

The PHAC says the duo provided false information related to proof of vaccine credentials and pre-departure COVID-19 tests. They were also caught failing to comply with Canada's mandatory hotel stopover and on-arrival testing requirements.

Per Canada's Quarantine Act — which came into effect in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — violating quarantine or isolation instructions can lead to fines of up to $750,000 or even prison time.

"The Government of Canada will continue to investigate incidents reported and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where it is warranted to protect the health of Canadians from the further spread of COVID-19 and its variants of concern," reads the notice.