A Canadian truck driver who is not fully vaccinated can’t be denied entry into Canada, but he/she needs to follow the entry requirements like testing and quarantine
OTTAWA: Over the past few days there have been contradicting news and statements coming from various media reports and government agencies regarding Canada’s vaccine mandate for Canadian truckers entering the border creating confusion in the trucking industry.
Clearing all the dust surrounding vaccine mandates, Canada’s health minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Transport minister Omar Alghabra in a joint statement said on January 13 that Canadian truckers who are not fully vaccinated will have to meet the entry requirements like testing and quarantine requirements.
Although, “A Canadian truck driver who is not fully vaccinated can’t be denied entry into Canada—Canadian citizens, persons registered as Indians under the Indian Act and permanent residents may enter Canada by right,” the statement read.
On November 19, 2021, Canada announced that as of January 15, 2022, certain categories of travellers who were exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada.
These groups include several essential service providers, including truck drivers. “Let us be clear: This has not changed. The information shared yesterday was provided in error. Our teams have been in touch with industry representatives to ensure they have the correct information,” the minister said.
The Canada Border Services Agency told reporters on the previous day that unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers arriving at the border would “remain exempt” from any testing or quarantine requirements, the government later said that information, provided by a spokesperson, was incorrect.
“As announced in November and as we’ve communicated with the industry recently, starting January 15, unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers entering Canada will need to meet requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day 8 testing, as well as quarantine requirements,” Duclos said.
The final decision regarding entry and quarantine is made by a government representative at the port of entry, based on the information presented to them at the time.
Any individual who is symptomatic upon arrival to Canada will be directed to a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) official and will be directed to isolate for 10 days from the time symptoms first occurred.
As of January 15, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign national truck drivers, coming to Canada from the US by land, will be directed back to the United States.
To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller and to enter Canada, foreign national truck drivers must:
- have received at least two doses of a vaccine accepted for travel, a mix of two accepted vaccines
- or at least one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine
- have received their second dose at least 14 full days before they enter Canada
- For example: if a driver received their second dose anytime on Saturday, January 1, then Sunday, January 16 would be the first day that they would meet the 14-day condition.
- Have submitted all required COVID-19 information into ArriveCAN.
