Trudeau not concerned over convoy, says 90 percent of truckers are vaccinated

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a press conference on Monday that "almost 90 percent of truckers in Canada are vaccinated" when asked about the freedom convoy en route to Ottawa.

"Almost 90 percent of truckers in Canada are vaccinated," said Trudeau in French.

"I regret that the Conservative Party and Conservative politicians are in the process of stoking Canadians' fears about the supply chain. The reality is that vaccination is how we'll get through this."

The convoy deployed in reaction to the Liberal Party's decision to make it mandatory for truckers crossing the borders to be vaccinated.

The policy has been a controversial one and been criticized by some in the Conservative Party, and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

Kenney said that the situation in Canada regarding empty shelves and the supply chain was "turning into a crisis" that requites "immediate action."

Kenney said that he would be on the phone with US governors "who share my concerns."

"We are working on a joint letter to the President and the Prime Minister urging them to use common sense, end the the policy that has taken thousands of trucks of the road," he wrote.

"Ottawa should drop the vax mandate for truckers now," said Kenney in a tweet.

According to Dalhousie University food distribution and policy professor Sylvain Charlebois, the situation is due rarely to staff shortages, COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and also harsh weather.

"As soon as you have a supply chain that is severely impacted by public health measures, it will slow things down and will obviously generate more waste and will cost more," though he said that the public will generally be able to find all essentials items.

"You will find everything you need — you may not be able to find everything you want," he said to Global News.