Canada to mandate vaccines for most transportation workers — but not truckers

Canadian officials say that while most members of the transportation industry will be required to take the COVID-19 vaccine, no vaccine requirements will be placed on the trucking industry.

On August 13, the Canadian government announced plans to require COVID-19 vaccinations for the federal workforce as early as September and for members of the federally regulated transportation sector, including the air, rail, and marine industries, “by no later than the end of October.”

The federal vaccine mandate will not extend to the trucking industry, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

While members of the trucking industry won’t be required to get vaccinated, the Canadian government is urging trucking employers to “continuously urge vaccination within their workforce.”

The Canadian vaccine mandate will also affect some travelers, including all commercial air travelers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships.

“As the country’s largest employer, the Government of Canada is committed to playing a leadership role by further protecting the health and safety of public servants and the communities where they live and work across Canada and around the world,” the Treasury Board of Canada said in a news release.

While there is no vaccine mandate for federal workers in the U.S., last month President Joe Biden ordered federal workers to either sign forms showing that they have been vaccinated or to submit to weekly testing, masking, and social distancing requirements.