Readers split on truckers’ convoy, vaccine mandates
Re: Truckers the proxy protesters for a lot of us, Rex Murphy, Jan. 25; The needless erosion of civil liberties, Editorial, Jan. 22; and Debating Quebec’s anti-vax tax, Letter to the Editor, John Cocker
During the really tough early days of the COVID pandemic, when there were no vaccines, truckers were thrown into battle as critical “essential workers,” with no assistance or PPE, to keep the Canadian economy running, and Canadians fed. Now, with vaccines available and the risks lowered, and with the majority of truckers vaccinated, the politicians pile on and tell them what to do, not having even thanked them for their first critical sacrifice. So here they are again, alone at the wheel, still essential and still unappreciated.
John L. Riley, Mono, Ont.
Is it really tyranny to require truckers needing to cross the international border, both ways, to get vaccinated?
Truckers do a great and important job. And they follow the rules — speed limits for example, requiring appropriate licences another example. In B.C., at least, if they want to stop off for a hamburger inside a restaurant along the way they need to be double vaccinated and follow other rules.
So why not follow the simple rules to allow easy access across the international border by being vaccinated?
Truckers have always, like the rest of us, had to have certain documentation to cross the international border — so why not this one?
If they got themselves vaccinated they would not have to drive to Ottawa in the middle of winter, at great risk to themselves and others; and they would and save on fuel, accommodation and wayside food. Better to follow the rules, earn
a great living and be appreciated by us all. Bill Gruenthal, Burnaby B.C.
Individual rights are limited by individual responsibilities. Yes, we have freedom of association but not in the centre lane of the freeway.
Yes, we have freedom to travel but we all agree to respect red lights during those travels as the correct thing to do.
Same goes for public health measures during the most serious health issue of our lifetimes.
Paul Larocque, Markham, Ont.
Have any of you or your children had polio? Do you wear seatbelts when you drive? Do any of you work in a COVID unit? To me, Canada stands for all of us working towards our common good as best we can with the limited resources available to us. Dr. John Cocker wrote an excellent letter suggesting that the right to refuse treatment does not include the right to harm others. We have prevented so much pain and suffering in Canada with vaccines in the past, and COVID itself is presently doing much more harm to Canadians than the vaccines are, however imperfect they and their pattern of distribution may be.
Jane Berry Chisholm, Toronto
The PM would have garnished a lot of credibility from his detractors (of which there are many) if he had promised to meet with the truckers on Parliament Hill this weekend. Instead, he decided to duck and hide, claiming he had to quarantine for five days after coming in contact with someone who had COVID. Funny thing, he tested negative, but still decided to cozy up at his cottage. A true leader does not run away from his responsibilities.