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This news release may not reflect the current border and travel measures. Check COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for the latest requirements to enter Canada.

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Note that information and resources on the coronavirus (COVID-19) are available on Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Government of Canada introduces further restrictions on international travel

From: Transport Canada

News release

The Government of Canada continues to take unprecedented action to protect the health and safety of Canadians by introducing measures to prevent further introduction and transmission of COVID-19 and new variants of the virus into Canada.

January 29, 2021                    Ottawa             Government of Canada

Today, the Government of Canada announced new rules on international travel, in addition to the multi-layered approach on COVID-19 already in place. The government and Canada’s airlines have agreed to suspend all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries until April 30, 2021. This will be in effect as of January 31, 2021.

Further, effective midnight (11:59 PM EST) February 3, 2021, in addition to proof of a negative pre-departure test, Transport Canada will expand the existing international flight restrictions which funnel scheduled international commercial passenger flights into four Canadian airports: Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. The new restrictions will include scheduled commercial passenger flights arriving from the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, which were exempted from the previous restriction. Private/Business and charter flights from all countries will also be required to land at the four airports. Flights from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and cargo-only flights will remain exempt.

As soon as possible in the coming weeks, all air travellers arriving in Canada, with very limited exceptions, must reserve a room in a Government of Canada-approved hotel for three nights at their own cost, and take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival at their own cost. More details will be available in the coming days.

The Government of Canada will introduce a 72-hour pre-arrival testing requirement (molecular test) for travellers seeking entry in land mode, with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers. In addition, we continue to collaborate with partners in the United States to strengthen our border measures and keep our countries safe.

To ensure travellers’ awareness and compliance with quarantine requirements, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working with security companies to help complete compliance checks for travellers arriving in Canada. Employees of these companies were trained by PHAC and authorized as Screening Officers under the Quarantine Act . These Screening Officers will visit travellers’ quarantine locations to establish contact, confirm identity and confirm that travellers are at the place of quarantine they identified upon entry into Canada. These new officers will conduct visits in 35 cities across the country, starting in Montréal and Toronto.

“The safety of the travelling public and the transportation industry are top priorities. Our government continues to strongly advise against non-essential travel outside Canada, and has implemented many measures to protect the health of Canadians in our transportation system. The expansion of the flight restrictions is based on decisive, public health rationale from the Public Health Agency of Canada to further protect Canadians from the health impacts of COVID-19.” The Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport  

“No one should be travelling right now. Each of us has a part in keeping our communities safe, and that means avoiding non-essential travel, which can put you, your loved ones, and your community at risk. The new measures announced today will be an important tool for protecting our communities, and increasing our compliance and enforcement capacity will help us keep all Canadians safe from COVID-19.” The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Health  

“We continue to enhance the already very strong border measures that were put in place since March 2020. Today’s announcement further strengthens these measures and will help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are working with provinces, territories and the United States to explore ways to keep us safe while ensuring the flow of essential goods and services remains uninterrupted.” The Honourable Bill Blair Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness  

“As new variants emerge, now more than ever, Canadians should be staying home. For their health and that of their loved ones, Canadians should only be considering travel if it is absolutely essential. With school breaks around the corner, I take this opportunity to remind Canadians that under no circumstance should anyone be planning travel for leisure.” The Honourable Marc Garneau Minister of Foreign Affairs  

Quick facts

Travellers entering Canada have a responsibility to make suitable arrangements for mandatory quarantine, which begins on the day they enter Canada. They are also required to submit COVID-19 related information electronically daily.

Failure to provide accurate information is an offence under the Quarantine Act . In addition, violating any quarantine or isolation instructions provided to travellers by a Screening Officer or quarantine officer when entering Canada is also an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to serious penalties, including six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.

PHAC currently contacts more than 6,500 travellers each day through phone calls, which verify their compliance with the mandatory isolation order.

As of January 26, 2021, 99% of the 48,682 interventions by law enforcement have resulted in compliance by travellers. However, in a minority of cases, verbal warnings, written warnings, tickets, and charges have been issued.

The Government of Canada is working directly with Aéroports de Montréal to offer voluntary testing on-site at the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport for arriving international travellers who wish to take a test before leaving the airport. This testing pilot project is in addition to those at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and the Calgary International Airport.

Associated links

• Backgrounder – Transport Canada Expansion of international flight restrictions
• Backgrounder – New testing and quarantine measures for non-essential international air travel
• COVID-19 measures, updates, and guidance issued by Transport Canada
• Travel.gc.ca

For members of the public, questions and information, including general information related to cross-border travel, the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) Border Information Service (BIS) is available from 6 am to 10 pm (eastern daylight time), 7 days a week. Please visit: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html for contact information.

For media only:

Allison St-Jean Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport, Ottawa [email protected] Media Relations Transport Canada, Ottawa 613-993-0055 [email protected] Cole Davidson Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Health 613-957-0200

Media Relations Public Health Agency of Canada 613-957-2983 [email protected] Mary-Liz Power Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Bill Blair Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness [email protected] Media Relations Canada Border Services Agency 613-957-6500 [email protected]  

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Travel outside Canada

It is important to be prepared and to expect the unexpected wherever in the world you may be. Here is helpful information on health and safety, travel documents, Canada-U.S border wait times, travelling with children and more.

Measles cases are increasing worldwide

Before travelling, check that you and your family have received the recommended measles vaccinations.

Do not travel if you have symptoms of measles or have been in contact with someone with measles.

If you develop symptoms of measles after your return to Canada, call a health care provider right away.

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What we are doing

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• Citizenship Act
• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act
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• Bon voyage, but... Essential information for Canadian travellers
• Travelling with children
• Well on Your Way - A Canadian's Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad

All related publications

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• Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad

Before travelling, check that you and your family have received the recommended measles vaccinations and know what symptoms to look out for.

A quick searchable guide to what you can and cannot bring on a plane.

A free service provided by Global Affairs Canada that keeps you connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad or at home.

Canada to advise citizens against non-essential international travel due to Omicron variant

The federal government will advise Canadians against non-essential travel to foreign countries, as Canada attempts to limit the spread of the Omicron variant, according to two government sources.

The sources, who CTV News are not identifying because they were not authorized to speak about the new restrictions, say the non-essential travel recommendation will likely be announced Wednesday.

The federal government instituted a similar recommendation in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, but only recently lifted it in October, as vaccinations rose.

• Newsletter sign-up: Get The COVID-19 Brief sent to your inbox

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and premiers had a 90 minute meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the new non-essential travel recommendation, but also a number of other travel measures that could help curb the spread of COVID-19.

One measure that is likely to be implemented is testing at airports for all individuals coming back to Canada, regardless of nationality or the country they are arriving from, according to a senior government source.

Currently, fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents returning home after short trips of 72 hours or less to the United States and abroad do not have to provide proof of a negative molecular test, such as a PCR test.

For longer trips, anyone coming into Canada from international locations are required to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure in order to board the aircraft and to avoid a potential 14-day quarantine when they arrive.

The federal government has been criticized for having complicated travel restrictions for Canadians looking to return home from African countries that had extensive restrictions placed upon them.

Another measure being considered by the federal government is banning foreign nationals from entering Canada outright, but sources tell CTV News the federal government is unlikely implement it at this point.

On Friday, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said that Canadians who travel abroad should be prepared for “hassles and delays” when they returned home. “Canadians who are thinking of travelling abroad need to be warned that the situation abroad is both risky and unstable,” said Duclos.

Chief Public Health Office Dr. Theresa Tam has stated that community spread of the new variant has already started and that Omicron cases "could rapidly escalate in the days to come."

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Canada eases travel restrictions to some Mindanao provinces

Canada has eased travel restrictions to some provinces in Mindanao, but continued to warn of lingering threat of terrorism, high levels of crime and armed clashes between rebel groups and Philippine security forces in other parts of the region.

In its updated travel advisory on May 1, Canada has delisted Camiguin and Dinagat Islands from its travel warning following review of the security status in these areas.

Meanwhile, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental were downgraded to “Avoid non-essential travel” category after being included in the “Avoid all travel” category in January this year.

Canada has warned that travel to Basilan, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay must still be avoided.

“Extremists have been active in the southern Philippines for several years,” the Canadian advisory said.

“Although local authorities have demobilized some of violent extremist groups in the recent years, there's still a risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings, especially in the following regions: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Sulu archipelago.”

Security has been a major concern in Mindanao due to the proliferation of firearms and extremist groups that have engaged in kidnap for ransom activities, such as the Abu Sayyaf, which has been tagged as terrorists by the Philippines, United Nations, and the United States.

In 2016, two Canadian tourists, who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, were beheaded by the notorious armed group after the deadline for the payment of ransoms expired. As a policy, Canada said it does not negotiate with terrorists.

Canadians were also warned of bombs causing deaths, injuries, and property destruction that have exploded in public areas of major centers including the cities of Cotabato, General Santos, Isabela, Jolo, Kidapawan, Marawi, and Zamboanga.

Clashes may also occur between insurgent groups and security forces, it noted.

Except for Davao City and Siargao Island, Canadians were advised against “non-essential travel” to the following areas in Central and Eastern Mindanao, citing security risks: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

While counterterrorism operations have diminished the capacity of terrorist groups to operate in the Philippines, Canada said “militants remain in the country even if attacks are less common.”

Should Canadians still proceed to travel in the southern Philippines despite its advisory, Canada urged them to “remain indoors as much as possible, be aware of your surroundings at all times, avoid crowded places, and always travel with identification.”

“Expect an increased security presence in public areas, especially around malls and transportation hubs, stop at security checkpoints, monitor local media, (and) follow the advice and instructions of local authorities,” the advisory said.

“There's a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The government of Canada's ability to provide consular assistance is limited if you get stranded in this area,” it said. —KG, GMA Integrated News

International travelers to the US will be able to skip proof of COVID vaccine, WH says

The Biden administration will lift the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for inbound international air travelers on Friday.

"As we continue to monitor the evolving state of COVID-19 and the emergence of virus variants, we have the tools to detect and respond to the potential emergence of a variant of high consequence," President Joe Biden said in a proclamation Tuesday. "Considering the progress that we have made, and based on the latest guidance from our public health experts, I have determined that we no longer need the international air travel restrictions that I imposed in October 2021."

Biden announced the change last week , along with the end of vaccine requirements for federal employees and contractors, foreign nationals at the land border and others. The requirement for air travelers will lift at midnight Thursday as the coronavirus public health emergency ends. Biden previously  signed a bill ending the COVID national emergency  in April.

So, what does that mean for travelers? Here's what we know.

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Is there still a vaccine requirement for international travelers coming to the US?

Not as of later this week.

Currently, all "non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants traveling to the United States by air" must show proof of vaccination with limited exceptions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's  website .

Industry group the U.S. Travel Association, which had called on the Biden administration to  end the vaccine requirement  for inbound international visitors and argued the rule was an impediment to tourism, applauded the change when it was announced last week.

“Today’s action to lift the vaccine requirement eases a significant entry barrier for many global travelers, moving our industry and country forward," Geoff Freeman, the organization's President and CEO, said in a statement last week. He also called on the federal government to "ensure U.S. airports and other ports of entry are appropriately staffed with Customs and Border Protection officers to meet the growing demand for entry."

The U.S.  lifted a requirement  that air travelers coming from China show proof of a negative COVID test in March. The policy took effect in January amid a surge of cases in China.

The U.S.  dropped its COVID testing rule  for international flyers in June.

Do travelers need a vaccine to cross the Mexico or Canada borders to the US?

The Department of Homeland Security also said in a news release that it will no longer require non-U.S. travelers coming into the country by land or at ferry terminals to be fully vaccinated or show proof of their vaccination status.

Do US travelers need to be vaccinated against COVID to travel internationally?

That depends. Many destinations have dropped their vaccination and testing requirements for travel, though some still have rules in place. The Philippines, for example, still requires travelers to be fully vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test in order to visit, according to the  U.S. Embassy in the Philippines .

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The CDC also recommends travelers be up to date on their COVID vaccinations before leaving the country. The agency defines up to date as having one updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine for people age 6 and up, which "protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5," according to its  website .

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

FinanceBuzz

These Are the Best Times to Purchase International Flights

Posted: May 10, 2024 | Last updated: May 10, 2024

Two passengers sitting next to each other on a flight likely paid different prices for their seats, depending on when they booked their tickets. No one wants to be the person who shelled out more.

And if you want to step up your travel game and visit places around the world, you will want to pay less for airfare.

To that end, the analysts at CheapAir.com studied flights from the U.S. to most of the world’s regions to find the best time to book your international flight. And the verdict? It’s a lot different than it was last year.

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A trip to the African continent is pricey, so booking as early as possible — 320 days or 10.5 months ahead — is your best bet. February and March are the best months to make your trek, with the average fare at $1,429

CheapAir.com says Tuesday is the best day to book, though Hopper experts argue that the day doesn’t matter. Bear this in mind for all international travel on this list.

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The average ticket price to Asia is $2,293, which is all the reason you need to try to save as much as possible. So, book your ticket 71 days or 2.5 months before your departure date.

Wednesday is likely the best day to book, with the cheapest months to travel being November and December. Aim to fly internationally midweek to all destinations for maximum savings.

Heading to Canada? Eighty-one days before takeoff appears to be the best time to purchase your ticket. However, that’s flexible, as CheapAir.com says you might find deals just as good one to six months before travel. Other experts suggest booking no later than three months beforehand.

Not surprisingly, January and February (brrr!) are the cheapest months to head north. The average fare is $517. Book on a Tuesday.

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You’re on island time now, as you can get the best deals to the Caribbean a mere 29 days before departure, with the broader window being three weeks to 2.5 months. Travel & Leisure suggests anywhere from two to 10 months. The average fare is $591.

Wednesday is the day to book. Summer and early fall are the cheapest months, but bear in mind that’s peak hurricane season.

Central America

Got Costa Rica or Belize on the brain? Finalize that ticket purchase 50 days before your trip for the best price; the average fare is $616. Similar to traveling to the Caribbean, you could be rewarded with a cheap find by booking three weeks to 2.5 months, and Wednesday is the ideal day to commit.

Travel & Leisure again has a broader booking window, this one three to 10 months, so your mileage may vary.

Thanks to super high demand, book super early — 320 days, or 10.5 months out — if you’re heading to Europe. The average ticket will set you back $1,112; book on a Tuesday and travel in December or February if possible.

A good rule of thumb for all international travel, including Europe, is to snag the first flight of the day for the best price, per Hopper experts.

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Whether you’re heading to Tulum, Cancun, Mexico City, or elsewhere, perennially popular Mexico is for booking. The average ticket costs $542 and should be purchased 67 days prior or two months out (but snag your ticket sooner if the price is right).

January and February are the cheapest months to travel, and CheapAir.com recommends booking on a Tuesday.

Middle East

CheapAir.com says booking early is your best bet if you’re headed to the Middle East — 256 days before takeoff, to be specific — though other experts say no later than 2.5 months might be fine. We suspect the earlier, the better, though.

The average ticket cost is $1,194, and February and December are the best months to go. As for the day to purchase, it’s Tuesday, again.

South America

Dreaming of dancing the tango in Argentina or finally seeing Iguazu Falls in person? While a ticket to South America may be pricier this year, you might find the best price 50 days before your trip. However, if you see a ticket for the average $867 or less, book it anytime.

Tuesday is the day to jump on it, with the best travel months being May and December.

9 nearly secret things to do if you fly Southwest

South Pacific

Good news! A voyage to the dreamy South Pacific is much cheaper in 2024 than it was in 2023. The average ticket cost is $1,917. Book 241 days or eight months before you go. However, 1.5 months may also be fine, per some experts.

Save $100 by booking on a Tuesday as opposed to a Saturday, and go in February or March.

Bottom line

International travel is a bucket list activity for all ages. Ideally, you can book your dream trip for less by following this data-driven travel advice.

Bear in mind there may be different rules if you’re booking with points.

Pro tip: Use the best travel credit card if that’s your approach to maximize your rewards and benefits.

More from FinanceBuzz:

• 7 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially.
• 6 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know.
• Find the best travel credit card for nearly free travel.
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A food bank in Ontario is turning away international students looking for free food

'We’re seeing five to 10 in groups coming every day,' says board president, adding other food banks and churches are running out of supplies

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Article content

The board president of a food bank in Brampton, Ont., says her facility has become so overrun with international students seeking free food that she has had to put up a sign telling them to stay away.

A food bank in Ontario is turning away international students looking for free food Back to video

The whiteboard outside the Ste. Louise Outreach Food Bank on Haggart Avenue includes information on opening times and where new clients and those with appointments should line up. But at the bottom, it adds: “Do not enter food bank / No international students!! (Government regulations)”

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Reached by phone, board president Catherine Rivera told the National Post that food banks have always had the occasional student show up at the door, sometimes to defraud the system, sometimes misunderstanding how it works, sometimes in real need. But never this many.

“What’s happened this September,” she says, “is we’re in the middle of serving families, and then you get a group of kids – you know, you can tell they’re very young students with backpacks. And they’re coming with little smiles on their faces when they say, ‘We want to get food.’

“And we say: Are you a permanent resident of Brampton? And they’ll say: No, we’re students.”

She adds that what started as one to two students a day in September soon escalated to three or four. “And now we’re literally seeing five to 10 in groups coming every day. And it’s happening with a lot of the other food banks. And I’m getting calls now not only from food banks, but churches in Brampton, saying that they’re running out of supplies, because they have this influx of students coming.”

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The “Government regulations” notice on that white board refers to government of Canada rules, which require international students to provide a statement of financial support before they are issued a study permit. “You must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who come with you while you are in Canada,” a government web site says, stipulating $10,000 per year (not including tuition) for the student, plus $4,000 for an accompanying family member.

Rivera thinks part of the problem could be unscrupulous agents in other countries who are telling would-be students that Canada will offer them free food when they arrive. She’s also heard of blog posts and YouTube videos with titles like “How to get free food in Canada.”

But she’s personally seen students who are fully aware they’re misusing the system. “We show them the documents that we got off the government website. And they laugh and walk away, because they already knew. Or the other thing is they say, ‘Well … we just got food from the other place.’

“And our thought is: ‘Excuse me? You just went to a food bank, and now you’re coming here?’ So there’s abuse happening now where they’re not only going to one, but they’re going to many, and they know darn well that’s not what’s supposed to happen.”

The sign outside Ste. Louise (named for the patron saint of social workers) went up several days ago, and was posted on the website X by Darshan Maharaja, a chartered accountant from India who now lives in Canada and runs a website that “offers analysis of Canadian current affairs and topics from a multicultural point of view.”

He followed up his post with a six-minute “elevator chat” on YouTube in which he carefully, cautiously unpacks the issue. But his conclusion is brusque.

“The whole study permit policy has degenerated into a multi-faceted fraud, where the dishonest make a killing, the honest suffer, and Canadians end up being divided and fighting among themselves,” he concludes. “My view is that the entire policy of study permits needs to be scrapped and rebuilt from scratch, incorporating safeguards against all the problems and malpractice that we have witnessed so far.”

In the meantime, Rivera is weighing her options while girding against an influx of even more students, needy and not.

“We’re at a point where we need some intervention here on the food banks not being inundated and overwhelmed with people coming to the doors and interfering with the service for those that need help,” she says. “We’re entering our busiest season, Christmas, when our numbers practically double, just because the pressures on some families become greater this time of year.”

She adds: “With the war in Ukraine, and with a lot of insecurities around the world, we’re getting people from all over the world coming now. And those that are coming legally with their refugee status, they get assistance right away. But you know, when we get people that walk up and say, ‘I have a visitor’s pass and I want food,’ well I’m sorry but we can’t do that. We can’t handle every student and every visitor that comes into the country.”

She’s considering reaching out to Brampton’s mayor, Patrick Brown. She’d also like to contact some of the schools that operate in Brampton, which include campuses of Algoma University and Sheridan College, as well as a number of private post-secondary institutions.

“To say, are you aware of this? Is there any way that you can let your students know that this is not what food banks are for? To help local residents, not to help every John Doe that jumps off an airplane.”

The sign has garnered attention, and Rivera welcomes it. “We don’t have that kind of funding, we don’t have that kind of manpower, and we certainly don’t have the space or resources to handle just anybody coming to the door like that. So we don’t know what the answer is, but maybe some kind of news reporting may help to bring awareness to the situation.”

She adds: “We’re open to any kind of suggestions or ideas or how people feel about it. We would really like to have the feedback.”

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Air France passengers endure beyond 24-hour journey after emergency detour to Canada

by Denise Whitaker, KOMO News Reporter

SEATAC, Wash. — The saga for passengers of a diverted Air France flight is now stretching well beyond 24 hours.

KOMO News is tracking their progress from an emergency landing in Iqaluit, Canada, while on their way to Seattle from Paris. KOMO News confirmed that those passengers will now be shuttled back to Seattle via Air France codeshare partner Delta Airlines.

The crew of flight AF338 decided to divert to that remote, northern Canadian town when there was an odd smell of heat in the cabin.

RELATED: Paris to Seattle flight diverts to Canadian arctic town due to 'heat smell' in cabin

Air France told KOMO News the crew’s decision was made in accordance with three criteria:

• Manufacturer's procedures
• Airline's instructions
• Application of the precautionary principle

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had more than 260 passengers and 10 crew members on board when it landed at the Iqaluit airport at 10:44 a.m. local time. The local airport’s fire department was there in full force just in case they would be needed to be ready for any type of emergency.

Some passengers reported on social media that they sat on the plane for four hours before being allowed to disembark. The local airport authorities there in Iqaluit kept the passengers in a secure area while they waited for the opportunity to continue their journey.

After more than 12 hours in Canada, Air France provided an aircraft and crew from Montreal to ferry them to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. Next up, how do they get back to their original destination of Seattle?

Air France told KOMO News they were working to reroute passengers as quickly as possible to Seattle but did not provide any kind of a timeline for that.

KOMO News is at Sea-Tac International Airport, awaiting a flight from JFK with those passengers on board.

Indian envoy warns of 'big red line' days after charges laid in Nijjar case

'our biggest problem right now is in canada,' says indian external affairs minister subrahmanyam jaishankar.

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India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as "a lot of noise."

During his first public remarks since the RCMP arrested three Indian nationals in the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma seemed to link the case to domestic crime.

But he warned that Sikh groups in Canada who call for the separation of their homeland from India are crossing "a big red line" that New Delhi sees as a matter of national security.

"Indians will decide the fate of India, not the foreigners," Verma told the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.

• Police make arrests in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
• Arrests in Nijjar killing, commission report refocus India as potential source of foreign meddling
• 'Canada is a rule-of-law country,' Trudeau says of charges in B.C. Sikh activist's killing

Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stood by allegations that the Indian government was complicit in Nijjar's slaying last year.

Nijjar had long advocated for the creation of a Sikh country called Khalistan.

He was shot dead last June outside his temple in Surrey, B.C.

Nijjar was under an arrest warrant in India, but Canada never extradited him due to a lack of credible proof that he committed any serious crime.

The killing sparked a wave of protests, with some Sikh groups circulating posters that threatened Indian diplomats in Canada by name.

Ottawa paused trade negotiations with India last August, a month before Trudeau publicly linked New Delhi to the case.

The diplomatic strain continued into the fall as India forced Canada to remove two-thirds of its diplomats from the country, threatening to strip them of diplomatic immunity, and temporarily halted processing visas for Canadian visitors.

Arrests in Nijjar killing push Canada-India tensions to new high

The three men charged in the case made a virtual appearance in court Tuesday. Police say they are still investigating whether India's government was involved in the killing.

Verma said the deeper problems underneath the recent "negative" developments have to do with Canada's misunderstanding of "decades-old issues," which he blames Canadians of Indian origin for resurfacing.

He said his chief concern is "national-security threats emanating from the land of Canada," noting that India does not recognize dual nationality, so anyone who emigrates is considered a foreigner.

New Delhi deems it unconstitutional to call for separation from India, but Canada has long said Sikh people in Canada are entitled to free speech if they're not inciting violence.

"Foreigners having, if I can call it, (an) evil eye on the territorial integrity of India — that is a big red line for us," Verma said.

He did not specify whether he was referring to foreigners being involved in the Nijjar case or the issue of Sikh separatism more broadly.

Verma added that unspecified media reports have been "a bit coloured," though he acknowledged "there would be some facts" in them.

Over the weekend, Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reacted to the RCMP arrests by accusing Canada of welcoming in criminals from his country.

But Verma struck a conciliatory tone on Tuesday, saying the two countries are "trying to resolve this issue."

"We are ready to sit down at the table any day, and we are doing that," he said.

Hours before those remarks, Joly said her goal is still to conduct diplomacy with India in private.

She said she would let the Mounties investigate instead of providing any new commentary on the case.

"We stand by the allegations that a Canadian was killed on Canadian soil by Indian agents," Joly said on Parliament Hill.

"The investigation by the RCMP is being done. I won't further comment and no other officials from our government will further comment."

Verma focused his Tuesday speech on "so many positive things" happening in the relationship.

He noted the annual value of two-way trade is $26 billion, and in the past 11 months, there has been a 75 per cent jump in Canadian lentil exports and a 21 per cent increase in Indian prepared medicines reaching Canada.

Vina Nadjibulla, the research vice-president for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said India has increasing importance for Ottawa and many of its peers.

"Canada at the moment is an outlier, when it comes to that kind of strategic deepening of partnership with India," she said.

"We do need to stabilize and improve that relationship, because that is in Canada's national interest."

She noted that Canadian businesses and provinces have been seeking stronger ties. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed Verma in March.

And Saskatchewan announced last week it had convinced New Delhi to reinstate the province's envoy in India, saying their official was among the Canadians who had to leave during the fall.

New Delhi hasn't allowed the other Canadian diplomats to return.

• What we know about the arrests and investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing
• A timeline of Canada-India tensions — from 2018 to the latest arrests

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe met Jaishankar last February and spoke at the Raisina Dialogue, a major foreign-policy conference in India.

Nadjibulla attended the same conference. She observed that India displayed "tremendous confidence" over its rising economic power, population and regional clout.

"There are many partners and suitors at the moment showing up in New Delhi," Nadjibulla said.

Despite the Nijjar case, she said Canada should consider reopening trade talks with India.

"There's a lot we can be doing together," she said.

Sikh activists want Ottawa to do more to ensure their safety

Not everyone agrees. On Tuesday, the group Sikhs for Justice called for Verma's speech to be cancelled, citing the Nijjar case and allegations of foreign interference by India.

The group's New York-based lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was named by U.S. prosecutors as an assassination target in a failed plot they allege was orchestrated by an Indian government official. The claim has not been tested in court.

India is in the midst of a months-long national election.

Nadjibulla said she expects Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to continue ramping up his rhetoric.

'Our biggest problem right now is in Canada'

Last month, Modi twice made statements in Hindi about his country's ability to kill those abroad who challenge the country's territorial integrity, in comments that were more broadly related to Pakistan.

Last week, Jaishankar lamented that "our biggest problem right now is in Canada," referring to Sikh separatism.

Federal cabinet minister Harjit Sajjan, who has been painted by Indian officials as a Sikh nationalist, suggested on Tuesday that he doesn't take India's claims at face value.

"We take any allegations and information by any country very seriously when it comes to any type of criminal activity," he said.

"There has been significant misinformation and disinformation by India on individuals in this country, including on myself and my family."

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9 Best International Aviation Museums

Take a trip through aviation history at these institutions around the world.

GuyGentry/Getty Images

The first flight of an airplane might've been in the United States, but today, aviation connects the world. After rounding up some of our favorite aviation museums in the U.S., we're turning our eyes abroad, highlighting international aviation museums to add to your travel wish list.

To compile this list, we've tapped aviation historian Shea Oakley and aviation expert Dan Bubb, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and former airline pilot, to share with us their personal favorites, plus considered some of our own.

"What I like the most about these museums is not only the wide variety of different types of aircraft spanning different time periods, but the rich history that accompanies them. Visitors will get to experience aviation from its infancy to being highly developed over decades," says Bubb. "Anyone who appreciates aviation and history will not be disappointed. At each of these museums, visitors must be prepared to set enough time aside because there is much to see, read, and watch."

Meet the Expert

Shea Oakley is an aviation historian and the executive director emeritus at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey. 

Dan Bubb is a former airline pilot and a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas who specializes in commercial aviation and airport history.

Imperial War Museum Duxford, Duxford, United Kingdom

Housed in one of the first Royal Air Force stations, Imperial War Museum Duxford has some 200 aircraft on display. "Duxford contains the British Airliner Collection which includes an example of just about every post-war airliner built in the U.K., from the Comet to the Concorde," says Oakley, who also praises its restoration center, which is open to the public, as well as its airshows. "I like to call it a 'living museum,'" he adds. "As much as I love our Air and Space Museum here in America, everything there is static. Duxford literally brings aviation history to life."

Museo del Aire y del Espacio, Madrid, Spain

Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images

Spain established its Air Force following the Spanish Civil War, and the Museo del Aire y del Espacio is dedicated to its legacy. Here, you'll find around 150 aircraft in indoor and outdoor exhibits, from a Fokker DR-1 to a McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II, plus artifacts like uniforms, weapons, and hundreds of model planes. The museum, selected by Bubb for this list, is located on Cuatro Vientos Air Base, about 20 minutes from Madrid' s city center.

British Airways Heritage Center, Harmondsworth, United Kingdom

Courtesy of British Airways Heritage Center

Interested in commercial airlines more than warplanes? Visit the British Airways Heritage Center at the airline's headquarters near Heathrow — it's free to visit, but you'll need to make an appointment to do so. "British Airways, like Pan Am in its day, has been one of the largest, oldest, and most significant airlines pioneering commercial aviation history," says Oakley. "The Heritage Center is chock-full of fascinating memorabilia about BA and its predecessor carriers going all the way back to 1919. Its curator, Jim Davies, is often available to give visitors a personal tour."

Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, France

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France has a long aviation history, much of which is chronicled at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace , another Bubb pick. It's located just a 10-minute drive from Charles de Gaulle at the Paris–Le Bourget Airport, a historic airfield that's used primarily for business jets today. The museum was founded in 1919 and holds a collection of aircraft that includes a Concorde and a Boeing 747, as well as numerous aviation-related works of art and posters.

Technik Museum Sinsheim and Technik Museum Speyer, Germany

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Though the Technik Museum Sinsheim and Technik Museum Speyer — two linked institutions located about 30 minutes apart between Frankfurt and Stuttgart — are not solely dedicated to aviation, these museums of technology do have an impressive collection of aviation artifacts. At Sinsheim, you can see both a Concorde and a Tupolev Tu-144, a Soviet commercial supersonic jet. At Speyer, you can climb through the interiors of a Boeing 747 (and walk out onto its wing) and spot a Soviet Buran space shuttle.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Canada

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Located on a former military base in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum , one of Bubb's favorites, is the country's most extensive aviation collection, with more than 130 military and civilian aircraft and artifacts. Highlights include the World War II–era Lancaster bomber, the largest surviving pieces of an Avro Arrow (the famous Canadian-designed interceptor aircraft), and the Canadarm from the space shuttle Endeavour . The museum also offers scenic flights in helicopters, vintage biplanes, and Cessnas.

The Royal Air Force Museum, London and Cosford, United Kingdom

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Split between locations in London and The Midlands, the Royal Air Force Museum is a testament to the air power of the U.K. from World War I to the current day. The museum has more than 160 aircraft on display, with a particularly robust collection of World War II planes (think: Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes). There are also various thematic exhibitions; subjects range from the Battle of Britain to the Red Arrows, the RAF's aerobatic display team.

Polish Aviation Museum, Krakow, Poland

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With 250 aircraft and 124 engines, the Polish Aviation Museum has one of the largest collections in Europe — and it's located at one of the oldest airports in Europe, the now-defunct Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny Airport, built in 1912. Though the Nazis destroyed most Polish pre-war aircraft during the occupation, the museum has the only remaining PZL P.11c Polish fighter aircraft. The museum also has a number of Soviet aircraft from the Cold War, on display in what's referred to as "MiG Alley."

Aerospace Bristol, Patchway, United Kingdom

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For the final museum on our list, we're back in the U.K. — this time at Aerospace Bristol , home of the last Concorde ever to fly. The iconic supersonic aircraft is undoubtedly the highlight of the museum, but there are more than 8,000 artifacts here for you to peruse. The museum is also an archive for the Bristol Aeroplane Company (and its predecessors and successors), honoring the city's contributions to aviation. The Concorde on display here, for instance, was built in Bristol.

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