All cruise line operations in Canada will remain suspended until February 2022 in a big blow to the industry, which has struggled to cope with the financial burden of having to halt operations since March last year.
The original order given by the government was set to expire later this month. The decision to extend the ban comes as health officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about having to deal with outbreaks on cruise ships if the voyages are allowed to restart.
Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said that the ban will apply to all cruise vessels carrying more than 100 people and smaller passenger vessels or pleasure crafts carrying more than 12 people.
All ships that meet the criteria will be barred from entering Arctic coastal waters. The government said that ships that are carrying 100 or fewer people will be subject to local health protocols. Ships owned by local residents used for fishing, hunting, harvesting, and essential transport will not be subject to the measure.
"Temporary prohibitions to cruise vessels and pleasure craft are essential to continue to protect the most vulnerable among our communities and avoid overwhelming our health-care systems. This is the right and responsible thing to do," Alghabra said.
Officials said that vessels that violate the order could be fined up to 1 million Canadian dollars ($799,000) or a prison sentence of up to 18 months.
Cruise lines from the U.S. and other countries that typically have stops in Canada will be barred from docking. In 2019, the country received visits from more than 1 million cruise passengers.
The extension of the cruise ship ban is the latest in a string of measures imposed by the Canadian government to mitigate the further spread of the coronavirus. The government has already imposed restrictions on travel to and from the country.
COVID-19 cases have slightly retreated from their peaks earlier in the year but government officials are refusing to ease up restrictions. Canada's vaccination program has been slower than expected and the government is struggling to meet its targets.
