REGINA — Premier Scott Moe says that in the not too distant future his government will be ending its proof of negative test/proof of vaccination policy in Saskatchewan.
Moe's message was released on his Facebook page Saturday.
In his message he thanked truckers for delivering food and household products, farm parts and other goods.
He said, “Truckers stepped up and kept on hauling, they crossed provincial borders and they crossed the US border. You did this prior to rapid tests, prior to early intervention treatments and prior to vaccines. You took the necessary precautions, you kept yourselves and those around safe, and you delivered the things the people in Saskatchewan needed to live.”
He said his government supports the call to end the cross-border ban on unvaccinated truckers.
While he declared his stand on future of the proof of vax policy, he said he continues to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, because he does not want anyone to become seriously ill.
“I want to be clear on how I feel about vaccines,” he said. “I am fully vaccinated with my booster shot. This did not prevent me from recently contracting COVID-19, but I believe it did keep me from becoming sick. In fact, I really had no symptoms at all, other than cabin fever from being stuck in my house for several days.”
He said his experience was similar to many other vaccinated people.
“Vaccination does not keep you from contracting COVID-19, but it does prevent most people from becoming seriously ill.”
Because vaccination is not reducing transmission, he said, the current federal border policy for truckers “makes no sense.”
“An unvaccinated trucker does not pose any greater risk of transmission than a vaccinated trucker,” he said.
He said the current federal policy poses a significant risk to Canada's economy and to Saskatchewan's supply chain.
“This federal policy will increase the cost of living, which is now rising at a rate that is creating significant hardship for many Canadians,” said Moe.