Cross-border truckers from Canada who aren’t fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be subjected to mandatory testing and quarantining upon their return from trips to the United States beginning Saturday, according to senior government officials.
“Let us be clear: nothing has changed. According to a statement released Thursday by Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, “the information shared yesterday was provided in error.” “Our teams have communicated with industry representatives to ensure they have accurate information.”
The announcement came after reports late Wednesday that the government intended to continue exempting unvaccinated Canadian truckers from the entry requirements that regular travelers face.
The reports, which appeared in multiple Canadian media outlets and cited a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency, sparked a day of confusion and frustration among carriers.
“What happens to the businesses and drivers who have now made all of these changes to their operations to accommodate what the government is attempting to implement?” Fuel Transport, a Montreal-based carrier, and freight brokerage are led by Rob Piccioni.
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated Canadian drivers will be subject to the requirements on the same day that Canada will begin allowing only fully vaccinated US truckers to cross the border.
The US government is expected to impose a similar vaccine mandate on Canadian truckers beginning Jan. 22. Once the US vaccine mandate goes into effect, any requirements imposed by Canada on unvaccinated Canadian drivers will be rendered null and void.
Industry groups on both sides of the border have lobbied against the vaccine mandates, citing concerns that thousands of drivers will abandon cross-border trucking.
