Declaration of Emergency Committee on Nov. 24th, 2022

[Stephen Laskowski]

We worked together. Both the American Trucking Associations and the Canadian Trucking Alliance issued statements similar to those that were read into the record. We said let's work together. Let's push this date out further, to when we can get vaccination rates up, educate more people on the benefits of vaccination and bring stability to the supply chain.

The ATA had a slightly different position. They had more of a legal issue of whether the government in D.C. had the ability to impose this mandate. It was more of a legal issue than ours was, but we worked together.

[Peter Harder]

They are a more litigious country than we are. That probably reflects itself.

What are the vaccination rates in your American counterpart organization?

[Stephen Laskowski]

We haven't looked at it since probably the spring, so I don't know if it's changed. Based on previous figures, it was significantly lower than it is in Canada. It is reflective....

I guess it all depends on how you define “vaccination”. Is it two or is it three? At the time, it was two vaccinations. At the time, in our nation, I believe we hit over 85%. In some parts, it was almost 90%. In the United States, I don't believe they got over 75%. Their rates were very reflective of their society, as were ours.

[Peter Harder]

That's correct. That would have had its implications with respect to public health in both locations.

[Stephen Laskowski]

That's correct.

[Peter Harder]

If I could conclude, Brian Kingston, with a question with respect to the OEM sector—

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

You have 10 seconds left, Mr. Harder.

[Peter Harder]

In terms of further or future investments in Canada, is the issue of cross-border fluidity on the minds of your member organizations when they consider expansion into Canada?

[Brian Kingston]

Yes, it is. It's a key part of Canada's overall competitiveness. This came on the heels of previous disruptions to the supply chain, including stoppages at the port of Montreal. It is on the minds of companies when they think about investing in Canada.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Thank you, Mr. Harder. Your time is up.

Thank you, Mr. Kingston.

We have about three and a half minutes left, so we don't really have time for another round.

I will simply thank the witnesses for being with us this evening and remind those who are supposed to get back to the committee in writing to do so through the joint clerks in the next few days.

We will now suspend and go in camera for the last part of our meeting.

[Proceedings continue in camera]