Most of Canada, including the Truckers, was told back in early January that if the Omicron wave peaks and begins declining...the mandates and restrictions will be removed/eased in February. Also, they were told that any mandates/restrictions will be up to the independent businesses and schools. Yet, this was applicable only on the Canadian side of the border and the United States side of the border have their own rules and laws. Simply, the U.S. requires the Canadian truckers to be vaccinated prior to entry into the U.S. or pass a Covid test and quarantine for a few days on the U.S. side of the border. That U.S. mandate requirement pissed off the Canadian Truckers and they wanted the Canadian government to intervene about the bias mandate requirements. Canada said NO...the U.S. has its rules and Canada has its rules. Just as important, at that time, late 2021...the U.S. was promising to send free home Covid tests to its citizens to better manage the Omicron wave...Canada decided to do the same but only for citizens in Covid hard hit areas. Truckers said WTF ? What about us ? The Freedom Convoy plans gained momentum except there was one major problem...what will happen if they blocked the border crossing. Duh...Canada will not get their goods and the United States will not get their goods. Truckers said I know...lets then truck to Ottawa even though it was the U.S. that made us mad with their mandate entry requirements. Today, both countries are now removing mandates (I think a dozen states in the U.S.) and easing restrictions. Truckers are still mad and decided to block (lockdown) the border crossing...they don't want any mandates nor any Covid testing requirement by the U.S. As of yesterday, several auto plants on the U.S. side have closed shop and a few on the Canada side too. Healthcare Canadian residents (dual citizens) that live on the border and cross the border to work in the U.S. Hospitals...those hospitals are now down to a skeleton shift and have canceled non-essential surgeries and agricultural businesses are missing critical supplies. Simply, it's a Canadian problem and a U.S. problem too...expect the costs of consumer goods in the U.S. and agricultural goods to begin increasing again due to the new supply/chain block. In the meantime, Canadian trucking companies have been hiring new employees in the mass and preparing to fire the minority of truckers that are protesting if they do not return back to work. Thus, even if the truckers are too impatient to wait for the scheduled removal of the mandates/restrictions...they won't have a job to return to and they have the "freedom" to look for employment elsewhere. The CTA and most truckers do not support the "Freedom Convoy". They understand it's a two side problem that started on the U.S. side of the border in which Canada responded with its own mandates. Thus, to fix the problem...it needs to be fixed on both sides and it has been fixed... Guess what...mandates and restrictions are being removed on schedule as planned back in January. Truckers now want the governments to step down to prevent future mandates when one of those Varariant of Concerns gets birth again. If a new Variant of Concern shows up...most of the population are vaccinated and will be back to normal...living with Covid as in life getting back to normal without the protesting truckers but with getting back to normal with the new Truckers that are willing to accept the entry requirements into the United States. wrbtrader
It's a stupid protest now because they knew the mandates were going to be removed and restrictions were going to eased in February if the Omicron wave was declining. Omicron numbers are declining and mandates are being removed as promised back in early January. Now the Truckers want to bypass their MPs and talk to Trudeau. Analogy...it would be like the U.S. truckers trying to bypass their state senators and state representatives so that they can negotiate directly with the White House (Biden administration). The negotiation...they want a promise that you will never use mandates/restrictions again when a new Variant of Concern shows up...even if it's worst than the deadly Delta Variant. Also, we want your word that the U.S. side of the border does not require us to be vaccinated or pass a Covid test to bring our goods into the United States. In addition, we want your government to step down so that the minority over-rules the majority that voted you into office. wrbtrader
I see you have your fair share of idiots up there too. Well welcome to the party, I guess. It’s a fast ride down the hill from here. These guys are going be drinking their own piss and storming parliament before you know it. Good luck.
Yeah, we have lots of Covidiots up here too. They still do not understand that if they manage to get Canada to remove its mandates...the U.S. side of the border has its own border entry requirements just like the Airlines... They need to be vaccinated or have a recent Covid negative test / plus quarantine for a few days. That's what the U.S. wanted and the Canadian truckers didn't like the fact that the Canadian government was only willing to work with the rules on Canada's side of the border. The crazy aspect...+90% of them are vaccinated. The truckers decided to "move the goal post" and wanted promises not to do mandates again and wanted the government to step down...ignoring the vote of the people that voted in the current government... Where have we heard that before...ignoring the vote of the people...Trump. wrbtrader
Canadian company behind key COVID-19 vaccine tech inks big development deal with Pfizer https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canadas-acuitas-expands-beyond-key-covid-19-vaccine-role-inking/
Canada has ordered more than 400 million COVID-19 vaccine shots: Here's the progress report https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-vaccine-deliveries-progress-report-1.6034624