Gov. Kay Ivey has applied her name to the letter calling for President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reinstate quarantine and vaccine exemptions.
The letter calls on the leaders of the United States and Canada to allow for the reinstatement of certain exemptions related to COVID – 19 mandates.
The letter focuses on the current supply chain issues that are affecting the world and the shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. It makes the claim that current vaccine mandates for cross-border will cause thousands of truckers to be forced out of the already dwindling work-force
“We are writing to request that you immediately reinstate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions available to cross-border truck drivers,” the letter reads. “We understand the vital importance of vaccines in the fight against COVID–19 and continue to encourage eligible individuals to get vaccinated. However, we are deeply concerned that terminating these exemptions has had demonstrably negative impacts on the North American supply chain, the cost of living, and access to essential products for people in both of our countries.”
“The truck drivers we’ve seen peacefully protesting in Canada simply want common sense reinstated & freedoms protected,” Ivey said. "I support them & am joining my fellow governors in calling on Prime Minister Trudeau & [Joe Biden] to immediately allow exemptions for cross border truck drivers. These types of unnecessary mandates would continue to exacerbate supply chain & economic issues."
Thus far, the letter contains signatures from the governors of Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming.
Ivey has previously come under fire for COVID–19 lockdowns she imposed in Alabama in 2020, especially due to the mental and physical health effects felt by those unable to attend regular activities or have access to non-emergency healthcare. She also received a bevy of criticism for the State of Emergency she imposed on the state for over a year.
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