Although provinces and territories have lifted most of their pandemic restrictions, including mask mandates, the federal government still requires travelers arriving in Canada to wear a mask for two weeks.

Current federal government rules state that travelers, including children aged five and older, arriving in Canada must wear a "well-designed and well-fitting mask" for 14 days when in indoor and outdoor public places.

Arriving travelers must also keep a list of close contacts and visited locations, as well as copies of their vaccination proof, according to the vaccinated travelers’ requirements listed on the government website.

The federal government says that in cases where federal rules differ from provincial or territorial ones, travelers should follow the stricter regulations.

Dr. Peter Juni, scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Wednesday that he does not think the rule is necessary at this stage of the pandemic.

Not only was the rule not sensible when it came to masking outdoors unless in a crowded environment, he said, but there are also different subvariants of the highly contagious Omicron variant currently dominant worldwide.

He said, "I don’t think there will be a difference in the situation we are in by applying masking behavior that differs for travelers coming internationally compared to people here."

Whether travelers will follow this rule is something Juni has "serious doubts" about. He said the more logical alternative is for travelers to take rapid tests on their day of arrival and after 24 hours, swabbing the back of the throat and inside the nose, recording results, and monitoring symptoms, possibly for two days.

He said, "From my point of view, that would be a practical solution that can be done."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Canadian Ministry of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada said all travelers entering Canada must follow emergency orders under the federal Quarantine Act, in order to "limit the spread of COVID-19 and variants in Canada."

The spokesperson said: "Wearing a mask remains effective because when combined with other recommended public health measures, a well-designed, well-fitting, and properly worn mask can help prevent the spread of COVID-19."