A convoy of truck drivers and their supporters rolled through Medicine Hat on Monday, en route to Ottawa in protest of vaccine mandates and in support of unvaccinated truckers unable to cross the border into the U.S.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
A convoy of truck drivers opposed to vaccine mandates passed through Medicine Hat on Monday on its way to Ottawa. The convoy drew large crowds of supporters from across the region, many holding signs and waving flags.
“We’re going to end mandates,” convoy co-organizer Chris Barber of Swift Current, told the News. “It’s not about anti-vaccinations – that’s everybody’s personal choice – this is about the mandates. We want the mandates lifted. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the U.S.A. border for commercial drivers and you have to show the COVID passport, a lot of guys are going to lose their jobs over that.”
Barber, a truck driver of 28 years, is himself vaccinated but said he wants to support fellow drivers who are not.
“This (COVID-19 vaccination) passport has gone too far,” said Barber. “If we can’t get across the border freely, and we’re being forced to by the federal government, we can take a stand or we can’t.”
As of Jan. 15, the Canadian government requires all truck drivers entering Canada from the U.S. to show proof of full vaccination, regardless of citizenship. Any driver who cannot provide proof of vaccination will be denied entry. The U.S. government has implemented the same policy.
While supporters of the convoy – called Freedom Convoy 2022 – believe the vaccine mandates to be unreasonable, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is urging its unvaccinated members to get the shot.
“The Government of Canada and the United States have now made being vaccinated a requirement to cross the border. This regulation is not changing so, as an industry, we must adapt and comply with this mandate,” CTA president Stephen Laskowski said in a statement Jan. 22.
“The vast majority of the Canadian trucking industry is vaccinated, with the overall industry vaccination rate among truck drivers closely mirroring that of the general public,” the statement read.
The CTA also voiced disapproval of the Freedom Convoy in the statement.
“The CTA does not support and strongly disapproves of any protests on public roadways, highways and bridges. CTA believes such actions – especially those that interfere with public safety – are not how disagreements with government policies should be expressed. Members of the trucking industry who want to publicly express displeasure over government policies can chose (sic) to hold an organized, lawful event on Parliament Hill or contact their local MP,” the statement read.
Local MP Glen Motz released a video Monday voicing his opposition to vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers and his support for the convoy. MLAs from Brooks-Medicine Hat (Michaela Frey) and Cypress County (Drew Barnes) also expressed support for the convoy.
“This policy is going to have a devastating effect on our supply chain, increasing prices, emptying store shelves and depriving Albertans of the food and products they need,” said Frey via statement Monday.
The convoy of truck drivers has sparked discussion about supply chain shortages, with many forecasting reduced stock of grocery items in particular. Barber believes shortages will begin to impact Canadian consumers as the convoy continues their journey, however does not believe the drivers choosing to take part bear responsibility for an interruption to the flow of goods, nor potential price increases as a result of such.
“Like (Conservative MP)Pierre Poilievre said, when the shelves are stocked with food, you can thank the truckers, and when they’re not stocked, you can thank Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party,” said Barber.
Like Barber, many local supporters of the convoy expressed discontent with Canada’s federal government.
“We’re heading to Ottawa to gain some of our freedoms back,” Lee Bates, a farmer from Stettler, told the News. “It’s about the freedoms for our kids … But it goes higher than that. It’s the corruption and the outrageous spending of our government that’s crippling our economy.”
“It’s more than just the mandates now, it’s about personal choice,” said Cody Scheerschmiet of Stettler.
“(Things are) getting out of hand in this country. We’ve got a tyrant dictator for a prime minister. These vaccine mandates, mandatory vaccines don’t work,” said Reg Zachar.
Deni Watson, the owner of Trukker’s Restaurant – where members of the convoy and supporters gathered – sympathizes with truck drivers as her industry has also faced implementation of vaccine mandates. To show her support, Watson provided truck drivers with free meals.
“We are (supporting the convoy),” Watson told the News. “We received a ton of donations for meals, so we’re making the meals.”
As of 11 a.m. Watson estimated her staff had served more than 100 meals to individuals participating in the convoy.
The convoy was originally scheduled to pass through Medicine Hat at approximately 11:30 a.m., but was delayed and arrived at approximately 1 p.m., with Medicine Hat Police Services confirming the convoy had exited the city by 2 p.m.
