Legal challenge mounted against Canada's federally mandated quarantine hotel policy

A constitutional rights advocacy group is mounting a legal challenge to the Canadian government's quarantine hotel policy.

The Canadian Constitution Foundation has filed an application withOntario's Superior Court of Justice along with five individuals, seeking an end to the policy.

A government order that went into effect last month mandates that anyone entering Canada from abroad must stay in a federally approved hotel for the first three nights of a 14-day quarantine.

Travellers may leave the hotels once a COVID-19 test taken attheir point of entry comes back negative.

The Canadian Constitution Foundation argues in its legalapplication that hotel quarantine requirements are "overbroad, arbitrary and grossly disproportionate."

It argues the hotel policy detains people without COVID-19 symptoms who would be able to safely quarantine outside of government-approved accommodation at minimal or no expense.