Canada bans travel from Congo, South Sudan, Uganda over Ebola fears

Canada's new Ebola-related travel restrictions are upending plans for Montréal's Congolese community in ways both costly and heartbreaking. Foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda face suspended travel documents — even those who haven't been to the region in months.

Merdie Sanga, a Université du Québec à Montréal student, was vacationing in France when Canada's immigration department notified her that her travel documents were being suspended. She hadn't been to Congo in almost a year. "I submitted paperwork showing why I fall outside the scope of the measures," Sanga said, "and I'm hopeful I'll be allowed to return soon." She remains stranded abroad, unable to return to her studies.

Musician Lionel Kizaba had a different blow: he spent $2,500 on a plane ticket to Kinshasa for his brother's wedding. He can no longer attend.

Sanga is one of several members of Montreal's Congolese community whose travel plans have been disrupted in expensive ways. The restrictions target foreign nationals from the three countries and apply regardless of recent travel history — a broad measure aimed at stemming Ebola spread as the outbreak in Congo reaches over 280 confirmed cases.

Community members have submitted documentation arguing their cases fall outside the restrictions' scope. Immigration Canada hasn't yet clarified how it will process exemptions or how long the travel suspensions will remain in place.

For a city with deep ties to Congo's diaspora, the measure raises questions about proportionality and who bears the cost of public health caution.