It is this Saturday that comes into force the mandatory vaccination of truckers entering Canada from the United States.
Since midnight, these workers must be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a two-week quarantine and a screening test for COVID-19 before their arrival.
Earlier this week, the Quebec Food Processing Council (CTAQ) indicated that this new requirement will have repercussions in the province since this refusal of entry into the country will represent “between 12,000 and 16,000 fewer truckers on the road , when the industry is already struggling with a severe shortage of truckers.
In a press release, the CTAQ argued that “the food supply chain, already weakened by the pandemic and a shortage of workers, cannot withstand this additional pressure”.
“The soaring food prices can only be amplified upwards,” warned Sylvie Cloutier, President and CEO of the CTAQ.
Unvaccinated U.S. truck drivers will also be turned away at the border starting January 15, with the United States preparing to impose similar restrictions on Canadian truckers on January 22.
About 26,000 of the 160,000 drivers who regularly make cross-border trips will be sidelined due to the vaccination requirement, warned the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Association, which also believes it will lead to increases price of goods, such as food or medical devices.
Note that there was some confusion this week surrounding the mandatory vaccination of truckers entering Canada, to avoid quarantine, when the Canada Border Services Agency announced the postponement of the measure on Wednesday. Ottawa backtracked the next day, stating that the rule would indeed come into effect as of this Saturday, as announced last November.