Manitoba couple returning from South Africa describes ‘discriminatory’ experience at Canadian quarantine hotel

A Manitoba couple felt like their human rights were being trampled on after a miserable five-day stay in a Canadian quarantine hotel upon returning home from South Africa.

Lennard Skead of Brandon, Man., originally from South Africa, travelled to the country on Nov. 23 to access medical care for his wife, who has cancer.

But a day after the couple left Canada, the World Health Organization released information about the discovery of Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant found in South Africa.

On Nov. 26, Health Canada announced heavy travel restrictions on several countries in Africa, including South Africa. Canadian citizens and permanent residents flying home were told to quarantine in a hotel and receive COVID-19 tests.

Various Canadians have told CityNews their treatment by Canadian officials at these hotels – and the general conditions there – are deplorable.

The Skeads echoed those complaints.

“The way we were treated was certainly discriminatory,” said Lennard Skead. “And it does make you feel as if you are a criminal.”

Shortly after landing in South Africa, the couple made numerous attempts to find a flight home, but with travel restrictions imposed, Skead says it was impossible.

“I managed to buy a flight on Air Canada from Canada to fly out of South Africa,” he recounted. “The travel agents tried their best and the best they could do was a standby flight for yesterday.”

WATCH: Canada’s latest COVID-19 travel rules explained

Skead and his wife were able to connect through Frankfurt, Germany, and then to Toronto.

Throughout the whole ordeal, they had to take six COVID-19 tests, which all came back negative.

Yet they were still forced to quarantine in a hotel in Toronto, which Skead describes as a bad experience overall.

“The rooms were really bad,” he said. “Rusted faucets, my shower was a mess, there was broken handles on the drawers. Food was always cold, and the microwave was removed. No one asked if we needed anything, ‘what can we get you? Do you need more water? Would you like coffee or fresh fruit?’ Nothing like that.

“It felt as if our rights as humans were being trampled on.”

WATCH: Montrealers returning from South Africa: quarantine process ‘a nightmare’

After five days of quarantining in the hotel, Skead and his wife were finally able to leave Toronto and got a flight to Winnipeg. They arrived on Monday. They drove back to Brandon and are remaining there for the rest of their quarantine.

Skead says the government needs to treat Canadian citizens coming back to the country better – especially given the crucial nature of his specific trip to South Africa, which was to provide care for his ailing wife.

“It’s timely, it’s faster than our own health-care system and she’s had cancer for a couple of years,” said Skead.

While happy to be back home in Brandon, he says the ordeal was extremely expensive. The flights, hotel rooms and multiple COVID-19 tests cost more than $22,500.

“I’m very frustrated,” he said. “I don’t have $22,000 to spend on this.”

He’s issuing a warning for anyone thinking about booking a trip in the near future.

“Just stay home unless you really must travel.”