Vaccine mandate for truckers will have exemptions, CBSA says

With just days to go before a federal vaccine mandate for truck drivers is set to come into effect, the federal government says Canadian truckers will be exempt from Canada's new rules, but are still expected to face restrictions once the reciprocal American policy comes into effect.

In a statement, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) told CTV News that “unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated Canadian truck drivers arriving at the border will remain exempt from pre-arrival, on arrival and post-arrival testing and quarantine requirement.”

Previously it was understood that Canada’s vaccine mandate would require all truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with The Canadian Press reporting that foreign nationals would be turned away, while unvaccinated Canadian truckers would have to quarantine upon arrival.

The federal government is denying that it’s a reversal of the mandate, saying that because the United States is set to enact its own vaccine mandate for essential workers at the border, starting on Jan. 22, unvaccinated Canadian truckers are expected to be required to quarantine as part of the U.S. rules. 

CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy said that the mandate will still come into effect for non-Canadian truckers coming into this country at the U.S. border, requiring them to show proof of immunization or be turned around.