On Wednesday, a group of two Canadian premiers and 16 U.S. governors sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden urging them to restore vaccine and quarantine exemptions for truckers crossing between the two countries.

“We are writing to request that you immediately reinstate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions available to cross-border truck drivers,” the letter said. “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 group then pointed to the supply chain crisis that is afflicting both countries, explaining that the mandates are worsening the crisis.

“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,” the letter said. “These restraints, 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 necessary, and we cannot afford to lose any more truck drivers who transport food and other vital supplies across the border.”

 

The letter came two days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to crush the protests from thousands of demonstrators that oppose the vaccine mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions.

“In a highly unusual move, the Canadian government on Monday invoked a series of emergency powers that include limits on public gatherings in a bid to end disruptive demonstrations in the capital city and along the Canada-U.S. border,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “The measures, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, represent one of the most striking responses by a Western government against protests by those opposing Covid-19 vaccine mandates and social restrictions in response to the pandemic, and immediately drew fire from some Canadian leaders and civil-liberties groups.”