??? Read 3 replies above. Canada is getting rid of the testing requirement next week.
USA has zero plans to get rid of it.
The Canada test was never a problem. Very easy to get tested in the US for free and no chance of getting stuck. The problem is always coming back to the US, expensive tests in Canada, hard to find, and possibility of getting stuck there.
I wasn't confused. I know Canada is getting rid of the test requirement next month. In my experience testing-wise, getting back to the US has been easier than going to Canada.
Save the very first trip back to the US (after border reopened) where I had to scramble and paid for an expensive PCR test, since then every trip back to the US has involved a $35 Binax antigen test that I do with supervision in my hotel room with my laptop. I plan ahead and take the test with me when I head to Montreal.
Meanwhile even with free testing everywhere in the US to get into Canada, more effort is required because the test has to be administered by a professional. Even recently where an antigen test, rather than a molecular one, is all Canada requires it still wasn't particularly convenient. To add insult to injury, where I recently got tested (CVS) has now moved to a COVID testing model where your appointment is a COVID test AND
-taking your blood pressure
-using a pulse oximeter
-asking you about the medications you take and medical history
My previous COVID tests were done in 2-3 minutes. I spent almost half an hour getting the antigen test. In other words, I had to undergo a prolonged COVID test and additional collection of personal information like I was at my actual doctor's office because even the antigen test to get into Canada has to be administered by a healthcare professional. (For getting into Canada, I don't know if Binax w/eMed counts as "healthcare administered" and I didn't want to risk it. That's why I went back to CVS but just for an antigen test instead of 72 hour PCR).
So as I previously said, of course not testing is more convenient. Thus, it'll be more convenient to go to Canada come April and ever slightly less convenient to come back home. But if you plan ahead, coming back to the US doesn't have to be expensive or inconvenient.