Canadian Vaccine Mandate for Truck Drivers

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced a new vaccination mandate for all non-Canadian citizens who travel into the country, specifically including truck drivers.  Effective on January 15, 2022, all truck drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Canada.  The mandate also requires that drivers upload to the ArriveCAN application proof of vaccination and travel information before entering Canada.  The Government of Canada notice is available online here.  The ArriveCAN application is available for download here.

NPGA is working with the Canadian Propane Gas Association to advocate on the potential for significant logistics disruptions or delays as a result of the timing for the vaccination mandate. NPGA also joined a coalition of other over-the-road trade associations to advocate against a similar mandate that may be released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  DHS announced its intention to require sometime in January 2022 full vaccination of all port-of-entry non-U.S. travelers.  The agency, however, has not yet published the mandate, which may be due to the pending litigation on the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  At the timing of publish this information, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the U.S. government’s request to end the current ‘stay’ that prevents implementation and enforcement of the ETS.  NPGA is among the trade associations challenging the ETS in federal court.

In light of the ongoing litigation, the White House directed the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force to delay the deadline for vaccination of employees of federal contractors and subcontractors.  The new deadline is January 18, 2022.

On November 19, NPGA hosted a webinar providing information on the ETS requirements, the ongoing rulemaking process, and the status of NPGA’s litigation opposing the ETS. The webinar featured a marketer’s perspective from Tom Manson, CEO of Eastern Propane & Oil, which operates in five states with nearly 500 employees.  A copy of the presentation is available on the Member Dashboard.

NPGA developed guidance summarizing the primary requirements of the COVID-19 vaccination executive orders, answers to frequently asked questions, and additional government resources for federal contractors and subcontractors as well as a template document for propane marketers to request a temporary exception from the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors.  The initial compliance deadline for federal contractors and subcontractors is delayed until January 18, 2022. These resources are available on NPGA’s Member Dashboard. While litigation, regulatory, and congressional action move forward, OSHA agreed to abide by a stay of enforcement currently enforced by the court; however, companies are encouraged to review guidance materials and policy requirements should the status quickly change.

Finally, OSHA requested feedback regarding the impact to employers with 100 and more employees as well as potentially expanding the scope of the ETS policies to employers with fewer employees.  Please complete a brief survey to provide valuable information to aide NPGA’s advocacy.

Please direct any questions to Mike Caldarera, Senior Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Services, or Sarah Reboli, NPGA Senior Director of Regulatory & Industry Affairs.