Consistency needed for ‘bubble’ success: Andy Walker

there was one theme that was heard consistently during the life of the highly successful Atlantic travel bubble last summer, it was the need for consistency.

There were four declaration forms, different testing protocols and different sets of rules. While provincial jurisdictions have to be respected, having the rules change each time a provincial border was crossed could be confusing, and if the correct paperwork was not filled out, there could be delays (at best) or denied entry (at worst).

However, it is fair to say most people regarded this as little more than a minor inconvenience as case numbers were low throughout the region at a time when many people in other parts of the country were discouraged from travelling outside their own communities. In most people’s minds (including those of many tourism operators), the pandemic was viewed as a one-season event.

Operators either stayed closed or operated with reduced staff in the expectation 2021 would see a return to normal.

That has proved to be a pipe dream. When it became apparent the pandemic was on the horizon, Premier Dennis King and his regional colleagues took steps to reopen the bubble in mid-April (it was closed last November following a surge of cases in New Brunswick) and that looked to be a solid plan in mid-March.

Then a surge of cases across the region and around the country put those plans on hold. The opening of the bubble was put off several times in May, but all four premiers have repeated over and over again they remain committed to the idea. Now the bubble is back. Just when depends on who you talk to.

New Brunswick was scheduled to welcome travellers from P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador (but not Nova Scotia, which has the highest case count in the region) without the need to selfisolate on June 7. Not has New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs thrown down the welcome mat, but he is also offering rebates of up to $1,000 towards expenses for visitors who stay at least one night.

The response from the P.E.I. side of the Confederation Bridge has essentially been “enjoy your nights away because you are going to be in isolation for two weeks when you get home.”

That is until June 27 when

P.E.I. deems the bubble open without self-isolation. That is if you have had at least one dose of vaccine and receive a negative rapid test result.

Nova Scotia has announced a reopening plan that provides no timeline for letting in visitors without the need for self-isolation, saying it will depend on the number of cases and vaccination rates.

Newfoundland and Labrador had not announced a reopening plan when this column was written, but government officials were said to be targeting a July 1 opening to the rest of the region.

Instead of moving towards uniformity, the trenches are being dug deeper. Everybody knows the bubble worked well last year and nobody wants to be the one to shoot down the idea. It seems beyond the pale that, until June 27 at least, those travelling across Confederation Bridge will get an enthusiastic welcome and money at one end at a COVID test and 14 days of self-isolation at the other.