Supporters for a trucker convoy against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Salmon Arm, Jan. 23, 2022.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Ben Westbrook
January 23, 2022 - 9:41 AM
Hundreds of people in Kamloops and Salmon Arm stood along the Trans-Canada Highway this afternoon supporting a trucker convoy heading to Ottawa to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The truckers passed through Kamloops at roughly noon today, and in Salmon Arm at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 23, on their way to Ottawa as part of a "Freedom Convoy," according to a Facebook post.
The federal government announced in November that Canadian truckers looking to cross the border from the United States would need to be vaccinated in order to avoid a 14-day quarantine, a policy that came into effect last Saturday.
Lori Turnbull, director of the School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University, told The Canadian Press she questioned the wisdom of the truckers' lobbying strategy, given how firmly Prime Minister Justin Trudeau staked out his position in favour of vaccine mandates during last year's federal election.
Andrew Steele, a vice-president at consulting firm StrategyCorp., said polls showed public opinion is mostly in favour of strong vaccine requirements for essential workers.
READ MORE: Truckers heading to Ottawa from B.C. as part of 'Freedom Convoy' against vaccine mandates
More than $2.2 million has been raised from a GoFundMe page for the truckers. The fundraiser was started to cover the costs of fuel, food and lodging for the truckers during their protest, according to the GoFundMe.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations say up to 26,000 of the 160,000 drivers who make regular trips across the Canada-U.S. border will likely be sidelined as a result of the vaccine mandate in both countries.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance has condemned the protests taking place across the country.
- With files from The Canadian Press
- This story was updated at 2:37 p.m. to include a comment about turnout.
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