Canadian Truckers Deal Blow to Trudeau's Vaccine Mandate

The new mandate set out by the Liberals force all unvaccinated Canadian truckers to quarantine for two weeks after returning to Canada. This basically makes their jobs impossible to perform. Furthermore, American truckers who are unjabbed have been outright denied entry.

This has resulted in numerous videos of truckers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated , refusing to drive their vehicles as an act of protest against the Canadian government's vaccine mandate for those in the profession.

This may prove hugely problematic for supply chains. According to Ontario Trucking Association president Stephen Laskowski, Canada already faces a trucker shortage, with fewer people having chosen to enter the profession as of late. Furthermore, it will affect roughly 16,000 truckers.

“What will happen and already is happening is the supply chain is just adjusting to having less drivers. We already don't have enough drivers. So what is happening is there is coming to be a prioritization within our membership towards their customers,” Laskowski warned. “The companies who can be more aggressive are acquiring truck transportation to go across the Canada-U.S. border but the others who cannot be as aggressive will find it more challenging moving their product.”

"Canada imports about $21 billion worth of agri-food products from the United States every year, and about 60 to 70 per cent of the food imported arrives on wheels," adds Sylvain Charlebois, a professor specializing in food distribution.

Laskowski fears that trucking companies may lose 10 to 15 per cent of their workforce overnight, worsening problems with job numbers for an already shrinking industry.