Helena, Mont…Together with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and 15 other governors, Governor Greg Gianforte today called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden to immediately reinstate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions available to cross border truck drivers.

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“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 leaders wrote in a letter to Biden and Trudeau.

In January, both the United States and Canada reimposed vaccine and quarantine mandates for cross border truck drivers amid historic inflation and a supply-chain crisis.

Emphasizing the costs of terminating vaccine and quarantine exemptions for truck drivers, Gov. Gianforte and the leaders wrote, “The timing of your decision to terminate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions could not have been worse, as North America already faces grave supply chain constraints. These constraints, combined with increasing inflation, place significant burdens on the residents of Canada and the United States.”

Reiterating concerns of transportation associations and the trucking industry, already facing a significant workforce shortage, they continued, “The removal of these exemptions is ultimately unnecessary, and we cannot afford to lose any more truck drivers who transport food and other vital supplies across the border.”

The leaders concluded, “Again, we urge you to immediately reinstate the exemptions for cross border truck drivers. We welcome collaboration to resolve this urgent matter.”

Joining Premier Kenney, Premier Moe, and Governor Gianforte on the letter were Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

The full letter may be found <a href=”https://governor.mt.gov/_docs/Joint-US-CAN-Governors-and-Premiers-Letter—Federal-Quarantine-and-Vaccine-Mandate-for-Truckers.pdf”>here</a>.

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