The COVID-19 crisis is impacting many aspects of the supply chain and international travel.
Throughout this very challenging and fluid period, the Government of Canada worked collaboratively with the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) to ensure the industry can continue to function safely and efficiently while moving the nation’s economy.
An international COVID-19 travel pilot announced today, involving the Government of Canada, the Province of Alberta and the essential service trucking sector, will provide commercial drivers and other essential workers with voluntary access to COVID-19 testing. Different rules for the pilot will apply to non-essential travellers during the pilot, which will take place at the Coutts land border and the Calgary International Airport.
“CTA applauds the Alberta pilot, which is another example of synergetic approach between government and our industry during this pandemic,” said CTA president Stephen Laskowski. “The Government of Canada has produced a pilot that will advance our nation’s fight against COVID-19 while protecting the health of our workforce and the efficiency of the trucking supply chain.”
The pilot is expected to operate until spring/summer of 2021 and will provide voluntary access to COVID-19 testing at Coutts border crossing in Alberta for truck drivers. Coutts is the ninth busiest border crossing for commercial traffic in Canada.
The Government of Canada has also indicated the flow of goods and border wait times will not be impacted by the pilot. More details on pilot, which also includes other modes of transport, is available here.
“COVID testing like this helps strengthen and protect Alberta’s supply chain and meet the growing demand for service in our province. Alberta’s economic recovery depends directly on our industry’s ability to move goods to market quickly and efficiently,” said Alberta Motor Transport Association president Chris Nash. “We’re committed to working closely with the CTA and our federal and provincial partners on this and other initiatives to make that happen.”
CTA encourages all essential workers in the trucking industry (which includes any staff involved in a trucking operation, such as management and mechanics) who cross at the Coutts border to use the Transport Canada/Canadian Trucking Alliance letter identifying themselves as essential workers. Possession of this letter should ensure access to voluntary testing as well as identify to CBSA and Public Health officials at the Coutts crossing of the exempt status from quarantine rules afforded to all essential workers.
