TORONTO -- Instead of acting on an advisory panel's recommendation to end the mandatory quarantine hotel program for those flying into Canada, the federal government is increasing the penalty for those who choose to skip it.

The government says tickets issued by police for violations of the Quarantine Act will carry a maximum fine of $5,000 as of Friday. That's a 67 per cent increase from the $3,000 fine that is currently in place.

Some travellers have been choosing to pay the $3,000 rather than submit to the quarantine process, which involves taking a COVID-19 test at the airport and then staying in a hotel for up to 72 hours while awaiting the result, at a personal cost of up to $2,000.
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