After the trucking industry, it is the turn of manufacturers to put pressure on Ottawa so that the federal government does not force truckers going to the United States to be doubly vaccinated as of January 15.
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“Manufacturers are extremely concerned, because we cannot afford that 20% or 30% of trucks no longer cross the border”, pleads the CEO of Manufacturiers & Exportateurs du Québec (MEQ), Véronique Proulx, who represents more than 1,100 companies.
MEQ is asking for a three-month reprieve from Ottawa and wants all Canadian truckers, whether vaccinated or not, to be able to continue crossing the Canada – United States border for the time being.
“We must work to increase the vaccination rate among truckers, we cannot afford to stop the trade,” adds Mme Proulx.
In November, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced that certain groups of travelers, including truckers, should be fully vaccinated to return to the country after a trip to the United States starting January 15.
At the Quebec Trucking Association, Ottawa was already asked to back down on December 8. A letter was sent to 10 federal ministers to this effect.
“We need an extension to try to get another percentage of vaccinated truckers,” said Marc Cadieux, president and CEO of the ACQ.
The industry is already operating at maximum capacity and struggling to recruit new truckers, he says. It is therefore “certain that we will hit a wall in terms of supply” if Ottawa goes ahead with its plan.
All sectors of activity will be affected, insists Véronique Proulx: “essential goods, consumer products, agrifood, defense, etc.” “
“Goblins” everywhere
We also expect the worst from the transport companies. “I am not against vaccination, on the contrary, I urge my employees to be vaccinated, except that I too have goblins”, launches Éric Gignac, president of the Guilbaut Group.
In Quebec, 81% of the population received two doses of the vaccine. In Canada, the proportion is 77%.
If the supply chain isn’t already broken, “for sure it will be in January” if Ottawa goes ahead. “And we are just going to increase the problem of the labor shortage in the trucking industry,” adds Mr. Gignac.
Another boss in the industry thinks Ottawa’s decision can quickly backfire on the government. “It will have a drastic impact on the Canadian economy”, thinks Pascal Gaudet, vice-president of truck management at Trans-West.
He explains that he is also struggling with people who refuse the vaccine, “as in the rest of the population”.
Its operating capacity will be reduced by 10 to 15% if Ottawa maintains its decision, he calculates.
“It’s going to be the same across the country. Demand will rise, prices will rise and that will have a direct impact on inflation, ”explains Mr. Gaudet.