The MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington is urging Ontario Premier Doug Ford to pressure the federal government into dropping a vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers.
Beginning Saturday, all truck drivers crossing the border into Canada will require proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
MPP Rick Nicholls said he is extremely concerned that removing exemptions for cross-border truckers will result in food shortages for Canadians and put the delivery of all goods in jeopardy.
“Truck drivers crossing the border have been exempt from COVID requirements for two years now. Arbitrarily removing their exemption on January 15 is going to hurt everyone and help no one,” Nicholls said in a news release. “In my riding alone, the agricultural businesses and greenhouses will be seriously harmed if (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau goes ahead with this. Auto parts suppliers using ‘just in time’ delivery will be devastated.”
Many other critics have spoken up against the vaccine mandate for truck drivers, saying it will exacerbate driver shortages and drive up the price of goods imported from the United States.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance said it estimates that the vaccine mandate will result in 10 per cent to 20 per cent of their workers being unable to do cross-border trips.
Nicholls said Premier Ford needs to do more to prevent this from happening.
“He needs to pick up the phone and call Justin Trudeau and tell him that he will be calling the shots for Ontario, and he needs to do it now before we get into a crisis. He should have done it yesterday,” said Nicholls.
Nicholls suggested that the federal government utilize the National Interest Exemption policy, which exempted professional athletes from COVID restrictions when crossing the border.
Nicholls was forced out of the Ontario PC caucus over the summer after refusing to be vaccinated. He recently joined the Ontario Party and became its first sitting member in the Legislature.