Truck convoy leaves Metro Vancouver en route to Ottawa vaccine mandate protest
A convoy of truckers and their supporters gathered in Delta Sunday morning for the start of a cross-country trip intended to deliver a message to Ottawa in protest of vaccine mandates for workers crossing the border between Canada and the United States.
About a dozen trucks rolled out of a truck stop just after 7 a.m., and the group expected more drivers to join as it passed through major cities in B.C. and Western Canada.
“A lot of us are going to be forced out of having a job by not being able to cross the border,” said trucker Colin Valentim, one of the organizers.
“Being forced out of the job is going to impact every Canadian. That’s a lot of loads that can’t cross the border, which is a lot of goods that will not make it to store shelves.”
Valentim hauls freight throughout Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
He would not disclose his vaccination status.
Any travellers entering Canada at the land border who have not been immunized with at least two doses, including truckers, must quarantine for 14 days.
“I’m not against vaccines at all. I’m against being told that you will do it or you will lose your job. That’s my problem,” said Valentim.
On Saturday, the United States also introduced a policy requiring Canadian truck drivers to be double-dosed in order to enter the United States.
“This regulation is not changing, so as an industry we must adapt and comply with this mandate,” Stephen Laskowski of the Canadian Trucking Alliance told CTV News in an interview. “The only way to cross the border in a commercial truck or any other vehicle is to get vaccinated.”
Laskowski said the overall vaccination rate in the Canadian trucking industry is close to that of the general population. He also condemned the truck convoy protest.
“The Canadian Trucking Alliance does not support and strongly disapproves of any protests on public roadways, highways and bridges,” Laskowski said. “CTA believes such actions, especially those that interfere with public safety and commerce at borders, are not how disagreements with public policy should be expressed.”
As of Sunday afternoon, an online fundraiser to help the protesting truckers in the convoy with costs during the trip had raised more than $2.5 million.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live updates: What star witness in Trump hush money case has said on the stand so far
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Wildfire smoke drifts across Canada, over parts of U.S., prompting air quality advisories
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
'A great victory for the industry': Taxi drivers celebrate ruling that found City of Ottawa negligent in allowing Uber to operate
An Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled that the City of Ottawa was negligent in its enforcement of the city's taxi bylaw when it allowed Uber to begin operating in 2014, harming the city's established taxi industry.
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly stories
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sued the parent company of the National Enquirer and InTouch Weekly on Monday for a story that she said falsely claimed that she was trying to help the Menendez brothers get a retrial after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.’s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease’s progression.
New York City FC coach repeats denial of allegations he punched a Toronto FC player
New York City FC coach Nick Cushing has repeated his denial of allegations that he punched a Toronto FC player, saying he is shocked and upset at the claim.