UPDATE: Ottawa restores vaccine mandate for truckers

The Canadian government has reversed its reversal regarding a vaccine mandate for truckers.

In November, the federal government announced a plan intended to start Jan. 15 requiring truck drivers coming into Canada to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

On Wednesday, however, the Canada Border Services Agency said Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into Canada would be exempt from that requirement.

But in a release Thursday, the federal health, transport and public safety ministers said the CBSA statement was “provided in error,” and that Canadian truckers must be vaccinated if they want to avoid quarantine and a pre-arrival molecular test.

The requirement will start Saturday as planned.

According to The Canadian Press, unvaccinated American truckers will be turned back at the border. The U.S. is preparing to do the same to Canadian truckers on Jan. 22.

The wire service said the government didn’t explain why the incorrect information was emailed by the CBSA to media on Wednesday.

Some truck drivers didn’t agree with Ottawa’s original decision to reverse the mandate.

Speaking to 980 CJME on Thursday morning — hours before the policy was reinstituted — Harkamal Randhawa said he believes drivers should be fully vaccinated considering how many people they interact with on any given day.

“Truckers should be vaccinated for sure because we are travelling to all the different provinces. Every single time we are meeting a lot of people, so I think we should be vaccinated,” he said.

Another truck driver who echoed Randhawa’s sentiment was Prabjeet Singh.

“It’s a safety hazard for everybody who doesn’t have a vaccine,” he said. “We’re using similar spaces. If we aren’t vaccinated, it’s a threat for everyone else.

“It’s about safety for all. Our safety is everyone’s safety. Everyone should have that responsibility.”

Not all truck drivers at a Regina truck stop shared that mindset.

Before the government had restored the vaccine mandate, Tim Quinn said he was happy the government had backed off.

“I feel like it should be your own choice to get vaccinated,” Quinn said. “It should be up to the person.”

An American driver can qualify for a medical exemption to the mandate if they are able to present a Centers for Disease Control exemption card for entry into Canada, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance. 

— With files from The Canadian Press