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Category: Bulletin

Ebulletin

January 19, 2022

Coquihalla Highway set to reopen to regular traffic

Today, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) will reopen to regular vehicle traffic between Hope and Merritt.

This will be a much more convenient route for people who need to travel between the Lower Mainland and the Interior, and is another significant milestone in the province’s recovery from the devastating storms.

Temporary repairs to the Coquihalla are in place while the ministry plans permanent repairs to the damaged sections. This means travel-pattern changes and reduced speed limits, with the trip between Hope and Merritt taking about 45 minutes longer than normal. This is a high-mountain route that can experience adverse weather and rapidly changing conditions that could require closure with minimal notice.

Electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations at Britton Creek are still out of operation. The nearest EV charging stations are in Hope and Merritt. There will continue to be increased enforcement on this route to ensure drivers are obeying the traffic laws and driving according to conditions.

On Wednesday, Jan. 19, weight restrictions will be lifted from Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet. However, drivers of large commercial vehicles are discouraged from using this route because of the challenging terrain. It is recommended that only experienced winter drivers travel this route. There is an increased avalanche risk through this corridor, so drivers should be prepared for delays and before travelling should check: DriveBC.ca

In the Fraser Canyon, Highway 1 has partially reopened from Kanaka Bar south of Lytton to Spences Bridge. Drivers can expect delays on this section of Highway 1.

Highway 1 between Kanaka Bar and Hope remains closed. Record snowfalls and recent avalanche risks had delayed work around Jackass Mountain. However, crews are back on site and it is expected the highway will reopen to all vehicle traffic before the end of January.

When Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon reopens, drivers can expect lengthy delays with additional travel times as long as two hours or longer, depending on the destination. Delays are a result of ongoing repairs, an at-grade train crossing, avalanche control and sections of single-lane alternating traffic, which includes a temporary single-lane bridge at the Jackass Mountain and Nicomen River crossing.

The highway will be open to legal width and weight loading, but loads will be limited to 25 metres in length until the rehabilitation of the highway bridge at Nicomen River is completed.

Drivers are reminded that B.C.’s winter-tire and chain-up regulations are in effect. Other safety tips for winter driving include travelling with a full tank of gas, food and water, and warm clothes. 

Quick Facts:

  • Highway 5 was closed to regular vehicle traffic since Nov. 14, 2021, due to damage caused by an atmospheric river event. 
  • Highway 5 opened to commercial vehicle traffic on Dec. 20, 2021. 
  • Flooding and washouts associated with the November rain event damaged more than 20 sites along 130 kilometres of the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt. This included seven bridges where spans completely collapsed or were otherwise heavily damaged.
  • More than 300 workers using 200 pieces of equipment moved more than 400,000 cubic metres of gravel, rock and other material to repair and reopen Highway 5 to commercial vehicle traffic in 35 days.

Learn More:

For updated highway information, visit: DriveBC.ca

 

For information on evacuation orders and alerts, visit Emergency Info BC:
https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/

For updated road conditions: www.drivebc.ca

For up-to-date public weather alerts, visit Environment and Climate Change Canada's website: https://weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html?prov=bc

To register with Canadian Red Cross, visit:
https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/2021-british-columbia-floods-and-extreme-weather

British Columbians can access the Disaster Financial Assistance application online:
http://www.gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance

For a French translation: https://news.gov.bc.ca/26069#translations

Warmest regards,

Annette Kieft

Executive Assistant | Member Services Coordinator

Private Motor Truck Council of Canada

225 Main Street E, Suite 5 | Milton, ON | L9T 1N9

T: 905-827-0587 x101 | F: 905-827-8212

E: info@pmtc.ca | W: www.pmtc.ca 

Details
Category: Bulletin

E-Bulletin

January 14/2022

CBSA, PHAC and Transport Canada held a call with PMTC and other industry stakeholders earlier this afternoon to provide updated guidance on what will occur at the border as of midnight tonight for unvaccinated essential travellers. At the bottom of this email is the info we sent out earlier this week, and all of this still applies, but based on the confusion and errors in communication that have come out from government officials in the last few days, many points of clarification were asked and provided on todays call.

  • effective 12:01am tonight/Saturday morning, any Canadian driver returning to Canada must be fully vaccinated, and are to submit their information through the ArriveCan App
  • any non-Canadian driver who is not fully vaccinated will be turned around and sent back, this includes essential workers, such as Truck Drivers.
  • any Canadian driver who is not fully vaccinated, including truck drivers, will be permitted entry, but will be required to quarantine and provide proof of a negative PCR test that was completed with in the last 72 hours.
  • Drivers will be permitted to deliver the load they are bringing into Canada before they are required to go into quarantine. Strict public health measures must be followed during this process, and once the load has been delivered, they must then proceed directly to their quarantine location. No more commercial movements can be made after the load has been delivered that they arrived into Canada with. (Guidance is to be provided when you arrive at the border. We have also asked they provide it to us, and when we receive it, we will forward it along.)
  • drivers will not be allowed to use their truck as a suitable place of quarantine. Your place of quarantine must have a physical address. It could be a hotel, a private residence, your home etc. You are allowed to travel home to quarantine, no matter the location, once your load has been delivered. As an example, if you arrive into Canada in Alberta to deliver, but live in Montreal. You can make your deliveries in Alberta, and once empty, you can drive empty to your home in Montreal to quarantine. You must follow strict public health guidelines when you are travelling to your quarantine location. If drivers do not follow quarantine orders, they can be subject to strict penalties and fines.
  • Boarder officers have been instructed to exercise discretion through this transition when it comes to applying fines and penalties for such things as arriving at the border without a PCR test or with out providing their info with ArriveCan. Officers do have the power to penalize however if they feel it is required. They have no discretion when it comes to the quarantine requirement when you return however.

The PMTC spoke out very strongly and requested that drivers who were dispatched in the 16 hour window between when government officials indicated returning unvaccinated Canadians would not have to quarantine, until they corrected their message, be exempted from quarantine measures. We were told this could not been done under the Public Health Order. We feel drivers and industry should have to pay for the error that they made, however it was made clear this exemption will not be provided.

If you have drivers who were dispatched in this window, please let me know. Also, if, as a result of this order, you have drivers who are penalized as a result of this order, please reach back and let us know. We will gather this information to report to government.

Continue reading below for the info that was provided originally.

The link below is the official release from the government on the border vaccine mandate coming into effect on Saturday.

Requirements for truckers entering Canada in effect as of January 15, 2022 - Canada.ca

 

E-Bulletin

January 12th, 2022

CANADA BORDER VACCINE MANDATE SET TO TAKE EFFECT THIS SATURDAY

PMTC and other industry reps had a call earlier today with CBSA, PHAC and Transport Canada. The purpose of the call was to explain what will occur at the Canadian Border when essential workers arrive at it on Saturday, the day the Canadian border vaccine mandate is set to take effect. The mandate will pertain to both Canadian and non-Canadian drivers who seek to cross the land border into Canada.

Please be advised that to cross the border into Canada, drivers must download the ArriveCAN app. In order to cross the border into Canada, as of January 15th,  drivers must show that they have been fully vaccinated from COVID-19 and use the ArriveCAN app. As of this date, if you are not vaccinated, a non- Canadian driver will be turned away at the port of entry and a Canadian driver returning to Canada will be instructed to follow quarantine protocols.

Links are provided below for more information, and key information and tips that were shared to today by government officials today are

  • As of January 15th, it is required that essential workers enter their vaccination status through the ArriveCan app. If a driver does not have access to a smart phone or have a data plan, they can access the browser version of the arrive can app from any computer, enter their vaccination status on the reusable use receipt which is available for frequent travellers.
  • Once the above info is entered, an ArriveCan receipt will be provided. Although your information and receipt will be electronically in the system, you are advised to either download a copy of the receipt to your electronic device as well as print off a paper copy to carry with you.
  • You are advised to also carry a digital or paper copy of your proof of vaccination status with you in case it is asked to be verified at the border. The only proof that will be accepted is the one issued by the Province, Territory or State that administered it.
  • Officials have advised us, if you are vaccinated but do not submit the information via ArriveCan as of January 15th, their focus will be on education and compliance initially. Failure to submit via ArriveCan will likely lead to delays at the border however, and the possibility of penalties do exist. If not using ArriveCan yet, you are advised to transition to it as soon as possible to avoid any issues.
  • If you are medically exempt from being vaccinated, you must provide eligible proof of this exemption from a doctor licensed to practice in Canada.

The US administration corresponding mandate on foreign drivers entering the U.S. is expected go into effect on January 22.

Since this policy was first raised in government circles, we have constantly communicated the environment that this mandate would create. We had hoped that both U.S. and Canadian officials would recognize the effects this rule would have on our industry’s capacity levels. Unfortunately, at this point neither the Canadian nor U.S. officials have changed their position on this matter.

As we can probably predict, mandates such as this are certain to cause delays and increased issues regarding our supply chain. If you begin to encounter any problems due to the cross-border vaccine requirement, please don’t hesitate to forward this information to me.

For more details on the requirements for entry into Canada, please see the following resources:

Canada Vaccine Requirements

Canada Travel Requirements

ArriveCAN App Requirements

Accepted Vaccines in Canada

For more details on the U.S. requirements for foreign nationals, please see the following resources:

DHS Vaccine Requirements Announcement

U.S. Cross Border Vaccine Fact Sheet

U.S. Cross Border Vaccine FAQs

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mike Millian

President

Private Motor Truck Council of Canada

225 Main Street East

Unit #5, Milton, On

L9T 1N9

Office: 905-827-0587

Cell: 519-932-0902

Fax: 905-827-8212

Details
Category: Bulletin

E-Bulletin

January 10/2022

 

As a reminder, than Canadian government’s new border measures for all travellers entering Canada by land begins on January 15th. As of this date, anyone entering Canada, including essential workers, will be required to be vaccinated. Non-Canadian citizens who are not vaccinated will be turned around. Canadian’s entering Canada will be allowed entry, but will be required to quarantine for 14 days. The USA is expected to have a similar border mandate coming ingo effect on January 22nd, although they have yet to officially announce this.

The PMTC, and many other industry associations and representative have been speaking out against this policy loudly, and are extremely concerned about the further damage this will cause to our supply chain. Despite these concerns being raised by all, on the weekend the federal gov’t confirmed their intention to move forward with this effective this Saturday. We will keep you posted on any changes.

From: PMTC Head Office <info@pmtc.ca>
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2021 8:42 AM
Subject: E-Bulletin: Informational Resources – Border and Travel Measures for exempted travelers entering Canada
Importance: High

E-Bulletin

November 29/2021

  • Below is a link to a Backgrounder that accompanied the November 19th announcement by the Canadian Federal government, which provides detailed information on the upcoming border and travel measures, including new ArriveCAN requirements:
  • Please see attached for a copy of the ArriveCAN deck for information and changes, that begin on November 30th. Essential travelers are to update their single use account and add vaccination status. Effective January 15th, anyone entering Canada, including essential workers, will be required to be fully vaccinated.

Mike Millian

President

Private Motor Truck Council of Canada

225 Main Street East

Unit #5, Milton, On

L9T 1N9

Office: 905-827-0587

Cell: 519-932-0902

Fax: 905-827-8212