New trucker vaccine mandates in effect

A vaccine mandate, announced in November, came into effect for cross-border truckers this week.

Canadian truckers who are not fully vaccinated will now need proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival at the border, and will be required to quarantine after arrival. Unvaccinated American drivers will be denied entry.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) projects 10 to 15 percent of cross-border truck drivers will be affected, which includes 12,000-22,000 Canadian drivers, and 40 percent, or 16,000, U.S. drivers travelling into Canada.

In his statement this week, Alberta Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney shared that according to the Alberta Motor Transport Association, “52 percent of Alberta’s gross domestic product is delivered on the back of a truck.”

“The pandemic and recent flooding in British Columbia have shown us that the supply chain is both critical and fragile, and we are doing everything we can to keep our economy functioning and growing through these difficult times.”

Current challenges to the supply chain are placing immense pressure on the Canadian beef sector. Pre-existing industry barriers include the acute shortage of truck drivers and limited railway capacity to transport grain feed.

The CTA, along with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), have asked the federal government to delay these measures.

A general statement from Canada’s Ministers of Health, Transport, and Public Safety says the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic prioritizes the health and safety of Canadians. “As vaccination levels, case counts and hospitalization rates evolve, the Government of Canada will continue to consider further targeted measures at the borders—and when to lift or adjust them—to keep Canadians safe.”

CCA, along with other agriculture stakeholders, will continue to raise these challenges with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to ensure the federal government is aware of the impacts to our supply chains.

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