(Reuters) – A convoy of truckers started their march from Vancouver on Sunday to the Canadian capital of Ottawa protesting the government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truckers, which the industry says would create driver shortages and fuel inflation.
Truckers underneath the banner Freedom Convoy 2022 had raised $2.7 million Canadian ($2.2 million) by Sunday via a gofundme campaign to fight the mandate. The funds raised could be accustomed to assist with the expense of fuel, food and lodgings, the gofundme page said. The convoy is expected to achieve Ottawa on Jan. 29.
The trucking market is fundamental to ensure the smooth flow of goods since more than two-thirds of the $650 billion Canadian in goods traded annually between Canada and also the Usa travels on roads.
But as much as 32,000, or 20%, of the 160,000 Canadian and American cross-border truckers may be removed the roads due to the mandate, the Canadian Trucking Alliance estimates.
The CTA, however, said in a statement on Saturday it doesn't support any protests on public roadways and the best way to cross the border on a commercial truck is by getting vaccinated.
Canada imposed the vaccine mandate for the trucking industry from Jan. 15, to which unvaccinated Canadian truckers re-entering Canada from the Usa must get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves.
Driver shortages are further likely to fuel red-hot inflation, which is running in a three-decade high, industry lobby groups have said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resisted industry pressure to delay the mandate because it was first announced in November.
