Sixteen U.S. state governors and two Canadian provincial premiers are asking President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately end the cross-border COVID vaccination mandates imposed on commercial truck drivers since January. Citing only economic rationale for their appeal, the signatories ignored the efforts of Freedom Convoy 2022 activists in bringing international attention to the issue.
Now in its 20th day, the convoy protest began with a cross-country trek from Canada’s west coast in mid-January to a standoff in Ottawa, the nation’s capital. The truckers are demanding that their government overlords end all COVID restrictions in their country.
The letter to Biden and Trudeau states that the mandates increase the pandemic-induced “grave supply chain constraints” already facing North America, and warns of worsening inflation and workforce shortage issues that are certain to ensue.
Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan’s Premier Scott Moe joined these Republican governors as signatories: Kay Ivey of Alabama, Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Brad Little of Idaho, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Tate Reeves of Mississippi, Mike Parson of Missouri, Greg Gianforte of Montana, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Doug Bergum of North Dakota, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Bill Lee of Tennessee, Spencer Cox of Utah, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming. No Democratic Party governors from the U.S. participated.
Kenney recently announced a three-step COVID restriction phase-out in his province, but left the door open to tightening control again if caseloads begin to strain Alberta’s hospitals. Moe, on the other hand, issued a statement to the truckers on February 11: “Your Saskatchewan government has heard and understands your concerns. We are removing all remaining provincial COVID-19 mandates by the end of this month and have called on the federal government to release a plan doing the same.”
The text of the letter reads:
We are writing to request that you immediately reinstate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions available to cross border truck drivers. We understand the vital importance of vaccines in the fight against COVID-19 and continue to encourage eligible individuals to get vaccinated. However, we are deeply concerned that terminating these exemptions has had demonstrably negative impacts on the North American supply chain, the cost of living, and access to essential products for people in both of our countries.
The timing of your decision to terminate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions could not have been worse, as North America already faces grave supply chain constraints. These constraints, combined with increasing inflation, place significant burdens on the residents of Canada and the United States. Furthermore, transportation associations have informed us that the lack of exemptions will force thousands of drivers out of the trucking industry, which is already facing a significant workforce shortage. The removal of these exemptions is ultimately unnecessary, and we cannot afford to lose any more truck drivers who transport food and other vital supplies across the border.
Again, we urge you to immediately reinstate the exemptions for cross border truck drivers. We welcome collaboration to resolve this urgent matter.”
