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Why Canadian Truckers Are Still Not Happy After Alberta Premier's Announcement About Vaccine Passports

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  February 09, 2022 2:15 PM

Just days into the Freedom Convoy's protest in Canada, Quebec Premier François Legault announced he was scrapping a plan to impose a tax on the unvaccinated, saying it would be too divisive. At the same time, the premier of Saskatchewan said vaccine passports in his province would soon end. While some Canadian officials denied the developments had anything to do with the protest, others didn't see it that way. 

Now, with protests lasting more than two weeks, other provinces are starting to change their tune on vaccine mandates.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday that vaccine passports in the province would end immediately, and most other Covid-19 restrictions would be phased out within three weeks. 

"Our approach to COVID must change as the disease changes," Kenney said. "The restriction exemption program has served its useful purpose. It has done its job."

He also rescinded a mask mandate on children under 12 in schools, pointing to the "very low threat that Covid-19 poses to the health of children." 

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Kenney said, "It is no longer justifiable after two long years to continue to disrupt and restrict the normal lives of kids." 

The premier pointed to vaccination rates and a drop in cases and hospitalizations as the reason for the change, but it also comes as truckers forced a major border crossing into the U.S. to close. 

He also said he believes it will be likely people need to take an annual Covid-19 jab "for the rest of our lives," much like the flu shot. 

The truckers were reportedly not happy with the announcement.