Quebec truckers council say mandatory vaccination will have repercussions on supply chain, food prices
Mandatory vaccinations for truckers entering Canada from the United States go into effect this morning.
As of midnight, workers must be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a two-week quarantine and a COVID-19 test before their arrival.
Earlier this week, the Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec (CTAQ) said the new requirement will have repercussions in the province since refusal of entry into the country will represent "between 12,000 and 16,000 fewer truckers on the road, when the industry is already facing a serious shortage of truckers."
In a statement, CTAQ said that "the food supply chain, already weakened by the pandemic and a labour shortage, cannot withstand this additional pressure."
"The spike in food prices will only be amplified upwards," said CTAQ president and CEO Sylvie Cloutier.
Unvaccinated U.S. truck drivers will also be turned away at the border starting Jan. 15, as the U.S. prepares to impose similar restrictions on Canadian truckers on Jan. 22.
About 26,000 of the 160,000 drivers who regularly make cross-border trips will be sidelined because of the vaccination requirement, the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Association said, which also believes it will lead to higher prices for goods such as food or medical devices.
There was some confusion this week about mandatory vaccinations for truckers entering Canada to avoid quarantine when the Canada Border Services Agency announced on Wednesday that it was postponing the measure.
Ottawa reversed course the next day, saying the rule would go into effect this Saturday, as announced last November.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 15, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.