Poll: 28% of Canadians support unvaccinated truckers crossing border

Almost one in three Canadians, or 28 per cent, support allowing unvaccinated truckers to cross the U.S.-Canada border, according to a new poll.

Those with this view are mostly likely to be from Alberta with 35 per cent followed by Atlantic Canada at 30 per cent and Ontario at 29 per cent.

The poll, conducted for CityNews by Maru Public Opinion, also found that the majority of Canadians believe truckers should either be fully vaccinated or have to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

The survey comes as a “freedom convoy” of truckers is making its way across Canada to Ottawa for a rally. The drivers left B.C. on Sunday and are opposing the federal vaccine mandates for cross-border drivers.

Read more:

• ‘Freedom convoy’ rolls into GTA, drivers warned to expect delays

• Police monitoring trucker convoy ahead of weekend rally in Ottawa

As of Jan. 15, all truck drivers entering Canada from the U.S. must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The U.S. has also invoked a similar mandate for Canadian drivers entering the U.S. however it does not apply for U.S. drivers returning to the States.

Those who aren’t vaccinated and cross the border will be subject to testing and quarantine requirements.

Drivers taking part have argued the mandate violates their freedom, prevents them from making a living and slows down the delivery of food and other products to parts of Canada.

Of the 72 per cent who believe there should be a screening process at the border for truck drivers, 36 per cent believe they should be fully vaccinated while another 36 per cent say the driver should have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taking within the previous 72 hours.

This survey was conducted on Jan. 24, 2022 involving 1,519 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Maru Voice Canada online panlists and has an estimated margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.