Quebec truckers protest against COVID-19 vaccination requirements
Quebec truckers who disagree with mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 are planning to demonstrate on Jan. 28 by organizing truck convoys to Ottawa from numerous border crossings between Canada and the United States.
A Facebook page called "Freedom convoy 2022" states that next Friday, truckers will gather before dawn at the border crossings of Saint-Théophile in Chaudière-Appalaches, Stanstead in the Eastern Townships and Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle in the Montérégie before regrouping in the area of Highway 40 in Vaudreuil, west of Montreal, to drive to Ottawa.
Angry truckers are also expected to join the protest from other Canadian provinces that day.
The demonstration in Ottawa is expected to culminate by 12 p.m.
Starting last Saturday, COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all truckers entering Canada from the United States to avoid a two-week quarantine and a negative COVID-19 test before arrival.
The measure has been met with disapproval, with the Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec (CTAQ) estimating that the requirement represents between 12,000 and 16,000 fewer truckers on the road.
Sylvie Cloutier, president and CEO of CTAQ, states the food supply chain, already weakened by the pandemic and a labour shortage, will bear additional pressure from this measure, increasing already elevated food prices.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 20, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
UPDATED | Ont. and Que. scramble to recover from thunderstorm that left at least 8 dead
Clean-up efforts are underway after a massive thunderstorm on Saturday left a trail of destruction in Southern Ontario and Quebec.

What is a 'derecho'? Climatologist explains Saturday's powerful storm
The storm that moved across Ontario and Quebec Saturday is known as a “derecho”, a powerful kind of windstorm that is long lasting and far-reaching.
How concerned should we be about monkeypox?
Global health officials have sounded the alarm over rising cases in Europe and elsewhere of monkeypox, a type of viral infection more common to west and central Africa. Here's what we know about the current outbreak and the relative risk.
Officials expect 3 to 4 days to restore power across Ottawa following storm
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
43 CP Rail cars carrying potash derail east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Clean up is underway after 43 CP Rail train cars carrying potash left the track Sunday morning east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
78,000 pounds of infant formula arrives in U.S.
A military plane carrying enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived Sunday in Indianapolis, the first of several flights expected from Europe aimed at relieving a shortage that has sent parents scrambling to find enough to feed their children.
Russia presses Donbas offensive as Polish leader visits Kyiv
Russia pressed its offensive in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Poland's president traveled to Kyiv to support the country's European Union aspirations, becoming the first foreign leader to address the Ukrainian parliament since the start of the war.
Court to decide whether Happy the elephant deserves basic human rights
New York's highest court is set to determine whether Happy, a 47-year-old Asian elephant living at the Bronx Zoo, is being unlawfully imprisoned.
Meet the guy who wants to help save the planet with thousands of buoys, seaweed and giant antacids
Seaweed is a ravenous consumer of carbon dioxide, and scientists have been eyeing it as one potential solution to the climate crisis.