Canadian truck drivers protest COVID vaccine mandate

Truckers in Canada began a march from Vancouver to Ottawa on Sunday to protest the government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truckers. 

The truckers had raised over $2 million as of Sunday using a GoFundMe aimed at fighting the requirement, which they say will lead to driver shortages and contribute to inflation, according to Reuters. 

The money raised will be used to provide fuel, food and lodging for the marchers, who are expected to reach Ottawa on Jan. 29, the news service added. 

Up to 20 percent of the 160,000 Canadian and American cross-border truck drivers could be impacted and off the roads as a result of the mandate, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) said, per Reuters.

Earlier this month, Canada said it would permit unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers to enter from the U.S., a reversal from a previous mandate for all truckers. Under that policy, American truck drivers were still required to be vaccinated. 

At that time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reportedly facing mounting pressure from the opposition party and the trucking lobby to forgo the requirement. 

However, the mandate that the marchers are protesting went into effect on Jan. 15 and requires unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers to get tested for COVID-19 and to quarantine upon re-entering Canada from the U.S.