By Canadian Press / NanaimoNewsNOW

Canadian Trucking Alliance condemns protests by unvaccinated truckers

Jan 23, 2022 | 10:52 AM

OTTAWA — A Canadian federation of provincial trucking groups is speaking out against planned protests by unvaccinated truckers opposed to a vaccine mandate for cross-border travel.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance issued a statement on Saturday, Jan. 22 saying it does not support and “strongly disapproves” of protests staged on public roads, highways and bridges.

Alliance President Stephen Laskowski said because both Canada and the United States have cross-border vaccination rules in place, truckers “must adapt and comply.”

A website run by protest organizers said convoys of demonstrators hit the road from British Columbia Sunday, Jan. 23, while similar groups from across the country are expected to convene in Ottawa for a mass protest on Jan. 29.

On Vancouver Island, supporters gathered on the Bastion Bridge in downtown Nanaimo with signs and noisemakers supporting trucks as they passed through.

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The group has raised over $2.3 million in donations, which will go to the cost of fuel, food and accommodations for participating protesters, according to its GoFundMe page.

The Liberal government announced in November that all Canadian truckers looking to cross the border from the United States would need to be vaccinated in order to avoid a 14-day quarantine, a policy that came into effect on Jan. 15.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2022.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press