Canadian Trucking Alliance president responds to trucking convoy

With the 'freedom' trucking convoy in the nation's capital, the president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) issued a statement on Saturday, January 29, reiterating the importance of truck drivers and essential services crossing the border, and saying there is no connection between the trucking industry and the convoy. 

“The only way to cross the border, in a commercial truck or any other vehicle, is to get vaccinated,” said the statement. “As an industry we must adapt and comply with this mandate and the vast majority have.” 

The president also notes that a “great number” of protesters have no connection to the trucking industry, adding the industry has a different agenda “beyond a disagreement” regarding the vaccine mandate across the borders. 

The organization does caution however, that those who are participating do it peacefully in order to avoid causing any issues to the safety of the people in Ottawa. 

“Your behaviour today will not only reflect upon you and your family but the 300,000 plus fellow Canadians that, like you, take great pride in our industry,” said CTA president Stephen Laskowski. “Please remember this important responsibility you bear today in delivering your message responsibly but also the impact your actions will have on the image of the majority of your colleagues from coast-to-coast who do not share your opinion but share your passion for the industry and country.”

The statement also said that over the last 24 months, the CTA has and will continue to work with the Government of Canada to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the supply chain. This, they wrote, includes several health and safety measures.