Anti-vaccine mandate truck convoy rolls through Saskatoon
A semi convoy protesting new federal COVID-19 rules for the trucking industry rolled through Saskatoon on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Saskatoon police advised of potential traffic headaches due to the convoy's planned trip through the city.
"Police are aware of a trucking convoy travelling towards Saskatoon in protest of pandemic-related restrictions," Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) said in a social media post.
The convoy, which is part of a larger protest movemment, is in reaction to the recent introduction of new COVID-19 vaccine requirements for cross-border commercial truck drivers.
As of 2 p.m. Monday, CTV News observed around 500 people gathering at the Flying J Travel center on the north edge of the city. About 30 semis could be seen, although it was not clear if all of the vehicles were part of the event.
Some of the protestors held signs with messages such as "I stand with truckers for our freedom!" and "end vax mandate."
"Most of our institutions are all corrupt and are all saying the same thing. Not a single person will stand up and the ones who do get cancelled or they lose their job," Melanie Beaudoin, who was on her hand to show her support, told CTV News.
"At this point, anybody who's willing to stand up, they're risking everything. So we all have to stand together," Beaudoin said.
Close to 500 protestors showed support for truck convoy travelling through Saskatoon. (Tyler Barrow/CTV News)
While in its social media post earlier in the day SPS said the group was expected to head south on Idylwyld, the convoy only briefly travelled down the busy thoroughfare before it turned on Circle Drive, eventually heading out of the city.
Many of the vehicles were expected to head to Regina with another fleet of trucks reportedly heading towards Saskatchewan's capital from Medicine Hat.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance has come out against the protest convoy, in a statement saying "the vast majority of the Canadian trucking industry is vaccinated" with the industry's vaccination rate mirroring the general public's.
"The (CTA) does not support and strongly disapproves of any protests on public roadways, highways, and bridges."
In addition to Ottawa's vaccine mandate for drivers, the U.S. is now requiring full COVID-19 vaccination for any non-citizen entering the country — even for essential travel.
CTA president Stephen Laskowski is instead encouraging unvaccinated drivers to "adapt."
“The Government of Canada and the United States have now made being vaccinated a requirement to cross the border. This regulation is not changing," Laskowski said.
“The only way to cross the border, in a commercial truck or any other vehicle, is to get vaccinated.”
During a COVID-19 news conference in held in Regina Monday morning, when asked about the convoy, Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe called the new federal vaccine policy for truckers "unnecessary."
"Our truckers were going back and forth throughout this pandemic. They've done so, I think, largely in a very safe manner and they are an essential service," Moe said.
PRINCE ALBERT
Earlier in the day, around 40 vehicles, including two semis, were seen at a Co-op Cardlock gas station in Prince Albert.
Rick Sproull, a recently retired truck driver, said he wants to see an end to vacciantion manadates across the country.
"There’s been way too many people, way too many businesses destroyed over this," Sproull said.
"Stopping the segregation that’s happening amongst people," he said.
A truck with protest messages written parked in Prince Albert, Sask. on Jan. 24, 2022. (Lisa Risom/CTV News)
Roughly half the participating vehicles were later seen departing towards Saskatoon to join the protest convoy.
With files from Lisa Risom and Tyler Barrow.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Whooping cough outbreak declared in Newfoundland
Health officials say there is an outbreak of whooping cough in eastern Newfoundland.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
NEW How Canadians can watch the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest
Europe’s top pop stars are out and about for the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Malmo, Sweden.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.