By JULIET PEREZ
Staff Writer
Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, implemented a new vaccine mandate on truckers who pass the US-Canadian border earlier this month and has enraged thousands of conservative truck drivers. Canada’s rate of vaccinated people has surpassed America’s rate of vaccinated people by a small percentage of 0.40%, which may be shocking to a lot of people because Canada may seem majorly liberal. However, this is not the case.
The mandate enforces that truckers who cross the border get vaccinated, if they are not vaccinated, they must stay quarantined when they return home. If conservative Canadians weren’t already upset enough with Trudeau’s political stances and enforcements, this was their last straw. The anger resulted in an organized cross-country drive where truckers take their vehicles across highways. The protesters are deciding to end in Ottawa, the country’s capital, where they will stay for the weekend. The truckers claim that the protest will remain peaceful, however social media posts say otherwise, that the protest may result in hate and violence. Canadians who populate Ottawa are being advised to stay away from downtown Ottawa where the streets will most likely be crowded.
The anger also raises other concerns for not only citizens of Canada but also the country’s economy. Just like the US, the pandemic has raised inflammation in Canada. Grocery stores are running on shortages and prices on food and petrol are rising. The country is heavily dependent on the truck driving industry, which helps get food and goods across the border. Previously truck drivers had been exempt from mandates concerning COVID-19 because they are considered essential workers. The Canadian Trucking Alliance claims that 90% of the industry is vaccinated, that many of the protesters in Ottawa do not even have a connection to the industry, and that they are not in support of the convoy, However, the measure could still remove 16,000 of the truckers.
The mandate could save thousands of lives and keep people safe in both Canada and America. It is extremely important for those who are constantly crossing the border to stay safe and to get vaccinated. The fact that some people can be so selfish and stubborn is astonishing but just goes to show that not only America can be stupid. Get vaccinated!