In Canada, unvaccinated lorry drivers angered by the requirement of both Canadian and US governments for cross-border lorry drivers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 have parked their vehicles in the centre of the capital Ottawa, affecting the flow of transport and have engaged in acts of hooliganism, British public broadcaster BBC reports.
The Canadian government announced in the vaccine mandate on January 15 that would require unvaccinated Canadian truckers crossing the two nations’ border to quarantine once they return home. Neighbouring US has also recently stated that foreign truck drivers must show proof of vaccination to enter the country.
Although around 90% of Canada’s 120,000 cross-border truckers are now vaccinated, similarly to the country’s adult population, the measures have angered many Canadians. Thousands of demonstrators joined the so-called Freedom Convoy in Ottawa that has blocked the streets around Canada’s parliament building since the weekend.
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The demonstration has grown beyond a call to end the cross-border mandate to a push to an end to all vaccine mandates nationwide, and some demonstrators have pledged to continue their protests until they are lifted, BBC wrote.