On Monday, Premier Jason Kenney declared that a food crisis is now impacting Albertans and demanded that the federal government immediately end the vaccine mandate for truckers.
“I’m getting pictures like this from grocery stores across Alberta this morning. This is turning into a crisis,” Kenney writes in a Tweet. “It requires immediate action by the Canadian and US governments.”
Kenney continues, writing, “I am on the phone with US Governors this morning 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 policy that has taken thousands of trucks off the road.”
I am on the phone with US Governors this morning 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.
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) January 24, 2022
Indeed, despite mainstream damage control in the form of misleading articles, food shortages are already beginning across Canada, with post after post emerging of empty grocery store isles.
It’s clear that it isn’t just a few hundred truckers impacted by the mandate Trudeau implemented just last week: it’s thousands of unvaccinated truckers on both sides of the border and thousands more who are standing with them.
Huge crowd. Justin Trudeau is on the wrong side of this one. pic.twitter.com/pDglV6AwnG
— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) January 24, 2022
Ready, set, go! The Freedom Convoy is preparing to leave Calgary and head to lock down Ottawa. Follow the coverage and the story at https://t.co/nqV5X2YZS3 pic.twitter.com/t2l0h1ckAL
— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) January 24, 2022
What makes matters worse is that anyone could have seen this food crisis coming.
As previously reported by The Counter Signal, following the implementation of Trudeau’s vaccine mandate, truckers began posting videos demanding the PM ends not just the mandate for truckers but also mask mandates, vaccine passports, and every other pandemic policy which restricts Canadians’ freedoms.
The trucker freedom convoy is greeted by supporters in Salmon Arm, BC, Canada as it makes it’s way to Ottawa to protest mandates. pic.twitter.com/nSPtPOh9kv
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) January 24, 2022
This convoy going to Trudeau's doorstep is longer than the convoy of Russian troops headed to the Ukraine border. Justin, you've got a problem on your hands. pic.twitter.com/nRUBtSngTO
— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) January 22, 2022
Furthermore, according to Sylvain Charlebois, a professor specializing in food distribution, “Canada imports about $21 billion worth of agri-food products from the United States every year, and about 60 to 70 per cent of the food imported arrives on wheels.”
“That’s almost 20 per cent of the food Canadians buy in both foodservice and retail.”
He adds that the industry is already roughly 18,000 drivers short, and many, who are approaching retirement, may take this opportunity to exit the industry altogether.
“And the timing is not great either,” he continues. “Much of the volume comes through during the winter months when produce from the southern states offers welcome supplies to Canadian consumers.”
In response to the dire situation unfolding, Trudeau has gone all but silent, not addressing the thousands of truckers currently on route to Ottawa to defend Canadians’ rights and freedoms — as non-truckers brace for grumbling bellies and empty pantries.
Things are getting serious, and when leadership is needed more than ever, the PM is tacitly defending the very decision that is causing the crisis befalling his constituents.
