Sask. Trucking Association hoping for end to vaccine requirements

The vaccination mandate at the Canada-U.S. border is set to come to an end for many air travellers Monday, but truck drivers are still left wondering when the rules will be dropped for them.

Jordan Ewart, the manager of policy and government relations for the Saskatchewan Trucking Association, says there is a growing level of frustration among drivers.

“We would like to see all the mandates taken away to ensure the free-flowing of the supply chain,” he said Wednesday. “We just want to see good policy — and any policy, really, that’s been introduced that makes it difficult to attract labour is going to cause a large impact on our trucking industry across the country.

“We’re already short about 37,500 vacant positions, so this is only contributing to some of the issues that have been plaguing the industry for many years.”

The border vaccination mandate has been in place for both Canada and the U.S. since January. Ewart says it’s important to remember the border vaccination mandate remains a bilateral decision between the Canadian and American governments.

“The decision doesn’t solely rest on the Government of Canada,” he said. “Nonetheless, we are seeing several mandates lifted. And certainly, you’re seeing that level of frustration start to increase here in the industry.

“We are trying to attract labour and right now, with these types of policies, it can make it very challenging for employers.”

Ewart says although most truckers are vaccinated, there are still delays at the border. He hopes the rules will be dropped sooner rather than later.