The Blue Jays had previously planned on preparing for the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida.
Without the exemption granted by the Canadian government, players and staff would have been required to self-isolate for 14 days upon crossing the United States-Canada border, making the location untenable.
All other 29 MLB teams were already planning on holding preseason training at their home ballparks.
While training in Canada is a step forward for the Blue Jays, the club are still without a settled home once the season starts later this month.
“While no final decision has been made on a site for Blue Jays regular-season home games, the club’s preference remains Rogers Centre,” the team said in a statement on Thursday.
“The team continues to pursue this option with the health and safety of the general public and the team at the forefront. The Blue Jays will communicate updates about the regular season as information becomes available.”
Canadian health authorities have already approved a plan for the NHL to play the Stanley Cup playoffs in Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, but the plan does not involve travel between the USA and Canada.
After months of bitter negotiations, MLB and the players’ union agreed last month to a 60-game season with a target start date of July 23.
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