Musk says ‘Canadian truckers rule’ ahead of drivers’ protest over COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted on Thursday that “Canadian truckers rule” as drivers made their way toward Ottawa to protest against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The mandate at issue was instituted by the Canadian government and applies to truck drivers who cross the U.S.-Canadian border, Reuters noted.

Ottawa police have already signaled they are on high alert regarding the protests, tweeting earlier on Thursday that “we are aware of inappropriate and threatening language on social media related to this event.”

About 90 percent of trucker drivers crossing the U.S.-Canada border are vaccinated against COVID-19, industry officials say, according to Reuters.

Musk told Time in an interview published last month that he and his children who were eligible for the vaccine had received their shots. But he also said to the news outlet that he was against mandates, saying, “We’ve got to watch out for the erosion of freedom in America.”

Earlier this month, Canada said it would permit unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers to enter from the U.S., a reversal from a previous mandate for all truckers. Under that policy, American truck drivers were still required to be vaccinated. 

However, the mandate that the truckers are protesting went into effect on Jan. 15 and requires unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers to get tested for COVID-19 and to quarantine upon re-entering Canada from the U.S.