Some Maritime experts say COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truckers couldn't have come at a worse time
Beginning Saturday, Canada will require all truckers entering from the United States to show proof of vaccination as part of its fight against COVID-19.
Cross-border trade between Canada and the United States is worth $650 billion annually.
“It’s our biggest trading partner. There’s a truck that crosses the line every five seconds,” says Jean-Marc Picard, executive director of the Atlantic Canada Trucking Association.
According to Picard, the percentage of truck drivers that are fully vaccinated is similar to the general population, close to 85 per cent.
He says the concern is that operators who oppose vaccines will find another line of work, leaving an already short-staffed industry scrambling to fill empty seats behind the wheel.
“We don’t have that luxury... If we lose five drivers tomorrow, we don’t have the luxury of hiring five more, that’s the problem,” Picard says.
Sylvain Charlebois, director of the agri-food and analytics lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax, calculates Canada buys about $21 billion worth of agri-food products from the U.S. each year.
“This is the worst time to actually have a vaccine mandate,” says Charlebois. “A lot of the trade actually does happen between November and March, so we do rely on the border very much to get the food we need over the winter months."
Jeremy Nichols, who runs a 12-week driver training school which graduates 100 to 110 students each year, says part of the solution could be to recruit more fully vaccinated truck drivers.
“We are requiring vaccination of all of our students starting Jan. 17,” says Nichols.
Nichols admits the new policy doesn't sit well with some.
“Most understand and it’s not a problem. We have had a few students or prospective students that have decided not to pursue their training,” Nichols says.
Once the mandate comes into effect, unvaccinated Canadian truckers can still cross the border but will need to isolate for 14 days upon their return.
Unvaccinated American drivers will not be allowed to enter Canada at all.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.