Canadian woman denied right to attend mother’s funeral due to coronavirus travel ban

A claim was filed by Kim Taylor alongside the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador on Wednesday which claimed that the restrictions are outside provincial jurisdiction and violate the Charter.

Legislation has been passed in Newfoundland and Labrador that bans anyone who is not a permanent resident from or working in a key sector from coming into the province.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association noted that it has concerns for the travel bans throughout Canada though it finds Newfoundland and Labrador’s especially troublesome.

It added that the NL ban allows police the ability to detain, search and remove people that they believe have disobeyed a public health order.

Taylor is a Halifax resident and was denied entry to the province after requesting an exemption to travel to Newfoundland—her home province—after her mother passed away. This even though a 14 day self-isolation plan was included as part of the request.

By the time the decision to make the exemption was reconsidered by authorities and Taylor was granted entry to the province, the funeral had already occurred.

Taylor now wants to make sure that others don’t have to experience the this same kind of compounded tragedy, first her mother's death, and then being prevented by authorities to attending her funeral.

Taylor provided a statement via the CCLA saying, "The exemption 'process' is unfair, inconsistent and not timely."

"The purpose of bringing this challenge forward is to save others from this unfairness—especially in emotional times like grieving the loss of a loved one."

The CCLA is unsure as to when the province will hear the case and wants the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador to temporarily suspend the ban until a decision is made.