Business groups call for delay
Some business groups, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition, are now calling on Ottawa pause the mandate to prevent further supply chain constraints.
In a statement, Dennis Darby, the chair of the manufacturers' coalition, said companies "can't get the goods we need because of supply chain bottlenecks," a problem "made worse by the trucker vaccine mandate."
Our manufacturers can't operate and Canadians are seeing empty shelves. We need the government to help relieve pressure by avoiding policies that make the situation worse and to help us get the workers we need," Darby said.
Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said supply chains are under "extreme stress" because of a shortage of shipping containers and severe COVID-related restrictions in China, among other factors. Beatty said businesses don't want to see the federal government "make matters worse at this critical time."
The CTA warns that anywhere from 12,000 to 16,000 Canadian cross-border commercial drivers could be sidelined by the federal mandate. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)
"What we are asking for is that they delay implementation at a time when supply chains are under severe pressure and that they use that time to encourage and facilitate vaccinations," Beatty said, adding he's frustrated that the government hasn't provided any data to suggest that truckers are a "serious source" of new COVID-19 infections in Canada.
A spokesperson for the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) — a trade association representing dozens of retailers, including major players like Canadian Tire, Costco, Lowe's, Metro, Rexall and Sobeys — also said it's concerned about the new vaccine requirement.
"Though RCC does not oppose a mandatory vaccine policy for truckers, we are concerned with the timing of this policy, which allowed only a very short window for completed vaccinations, compounded by the obvious fact that it is harder to schedule vaccinations for people who are on the road most of the time by the very nature of their work," Michelle Wasylyshen said in a written statement to CBC News.
