Canada bars visas from Ebola - hit countries
Visa applications from worst - affected nations suspended in move
slammed as ineffective and disheartening by critics.
Canada has suspended visa applications for residents and nationals
of countries with " widespread transmission " of the Ebola virus ,
becoming the second nation after Australia to introduce such a
measure .
The countries most severely hit by the worst Ebola outbreak ever are
Liberia , Sierra Leone and Guinea . Canada has not yet had a case of
the disease .
The similar move by Australia was slammed on Wednesday by Dr
Margaret Chan, the World Health Organisation 's director general , who
said closing borders won ' t stop spread of the Ebola virus.
Canadians , including healthcare workers , in West Africa will be
permitted to travel back to Canada , the government said .
Kevin Menard , a spokesman for Canada ' s immigration ministry , said
the government has " instituted a pause " in issuing visas for
foreigners from risky countries , but noted " there was room for
discretion if we can be assured that someone is not infected with the
virus, " according to the Associated Press news agency .
Nancy Caron , a spokesman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada ,
said that " a number of African countries have imposed stricter travel
bans as have several other countries around the world. Other countries
such as the United States have started to place restrictions on
travelers from countries with Ebola outbreaks " .
The government also noted that all travelers , including Canadian
citizens , will continue to be screened at ports of entry in Canada and
will be subject to appropriate health screening .
Menard said the move is similar to , but a bit less restrictive than , the
Australian measure .
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN secretary - general , said
the body welcomed Canada ' s support in fighting the Ebola outbreak
but advocated " against isolating the three most impacted countries
and stigmatising its citizens " .
' Disheartening move '
David Fidler , an international law professor at Indiana University ,
said the measures by Canada and Australia mean are violations of
International Health Regulations , a 2005 World Health Organisation
treaty to which both signed up .
The treaty " just seems to be disintegrating in this Ebola panic, "
Fidler said.
" And to have countries like Australia and Canada be in the
forefront of this is even more disheartening , '' he said, because they

had been supportive of the international treaty meant to prevent
panic during such a health crisis .
Libby Davies , a member of the Canadian opposition party New
Democrat, also criticised the visa ban , citing criticism by the World
Health Organisation and the World Bank and questioning the
announcement' s timing .
" Sending this announcement on a Friday afternoon only worsens
concerns that this policy is a public relations exercise , and
irresponsibly ignorant of what health experts have advised , " she said.
The International Health Regulations are designed to help the world
fight infectious disease outbreaks that have the potential for
international spread . They were revised and strengthened in the
wake of the 2003 SARS outbreak .