I'll start by saying two things, Mr. Chair. There are the quarantine hotels that were referred to...probably government-authorized accommodation. Then there are the designated quarantine facilities, which are also hotels. The GAAs are the government-authorized accommodations. They were privately owned hotels that agreed to meet public health guidelines.
The selection criteria were for the purpose of accommodating asymptomatic air travellers awaiting their COVID-19 test results. There wasn't any contractual relationship between the Public Health Agency and the government-authorized accommodation. Travellers paid for their own stay. The cost included meals, transportation and security, which was provided by the GAA.
The mandatory hotel stopover requirement of the GAA was eliminated as of August 9.
However, the DQFs, which are contracted and mandated by the Public Health Agency, are to support symptomatic and asymptomatic travellers who do not have a suitable location for quarantine, or who don't have a quarantine plan upon entry into Canada. That's the last resort. Transportation and other services at the DQFs, or designated quarantine facilities, such as daily meals, are a part of the arrangement, which the Public Health Agency bears at no cost to the travellers. This is in relation to reducing any of the infection getting out if they do not have a proper plan.
Again, there are criteria through which we have made sure that the DQFs are adhering to the public health guidelines that we have prepared for those hotels.