A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the Alaska State Legislature is calling out the Canadian government to waive the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for United States truck drivers crossing the Canadian border. The letter is addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Since January 15, U.S. truck drivers who choose to be unvaccinated are being denied entry into Canada. Previously, Canada allowed unvaccinated essential workers to cross the border into Canada from the U.S. as not to interrupt the supply chain. On Saturday, the United States implemented a similar vaccination mandate for Canadian freight drivers. Both countries face considerable shortages of food and other essential supplies.
Homer Rep. Sarah Vance said:
“Alaskan shelves are bare, and supply chains are strained now more than ever. Food security in Alaska is a pressing issue that has now been exacerbated by vaccine mandates imposed on our truckers. I signed on to letters to Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau, and President Biden calling on them to waive the COVID-19 vaccination mandates so our truckers can cross the borders across Canada. I will continue to oppose mandates that cripple our economy and medical liberties. Vaccines should be voluntary, not mandated by government.”
In a forthcoming letter, members of the Alaska State Legislature also are asking President Biden to rescind the vaccination requirement for truckers entering the United States. Approximately 70% of the $648 billion in trade between Canada and the United States moves by truck, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.
Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra recently told CBC News:
“Every step of the way, we take a lot of time and spend a lot of time thinking about our policies and we want to do the right thing and we’ve consistently put the health and safety of Canadians as our priority and another priority is protecting the supply chain. Actually, this policy measure is intended to protect the supply chains and those who work in the supply chains. We’ve been speaking with stakeholders. We’ve been speaking with truckers and operators. All of them are aware and understand the necessity for vaccine mandate. Look, everybody is working towards that, we’ve done it in the airline sector. We’ve done it in the rail sector. This is just another step in furthering the protections, the health and safety of Canadian and furthering the protection for our supply chain.”
The American Truckers Association and the Canadian Truckers Association both have argued that because drivers are usually isolated from the public, they have lower rates of coronavirus infection and pose little risk to public health. The Alaska Trucking Association opposes the vaccination requirement for freight drivers.
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