Juno News - January 24, 2022


Conservative leader Erin O’Toole refuses to say if he supports the #TruckersForFreedom convoy


Episode Stats

Length

5 minutes

Words per Minute

172.3748

Word Count

864

Sentence Count

49


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Several of your MPs have tweeted out support for the convoy.
00:00:05.260 One of them saying that he felt the Prime Minister had a vendetta against people who were unvaccinated.
00:00:12.300 Do you support the convoy, its goals, its objectives,
00:00:16.360 even though the Canadian Trucking Alliance says this could be disruptive?
00:00:19.200 And to follow, again, repeat Louis' question, will you meet with them when they come to Ottawa?
00:00:24.320 We've been talking to the Canadian Truckers Alliance, Glenn, for several months.
00:00:27.860 We've seen a crisis in the supply chain coming for several months,
00:00:32.300 and we've proposed policies to try and help alleviate that,
00:00:36.320 the most important of which is vaccines.
00:00:39.520 And we encourage everyone to get vaccinated and to get boosted.
00:00:42.900 And how can we use those tools alongside the other tools
00:00:47.280 to make sure that we don't see shortages on grocery store shelves?
00:00:51.280 Because here's the reality.
00:00:52.980 When there's a shortage of products, the costs go up,
00:00:56.000 and Canadians are already 60% worried about paying their grocery bill.
00:01:01.500 So we can't have policies that make that even worse, and we can't raise taxes.
00:01:06.080 So that's what we've been advocating for responsibly the last few months, Glenn,
00:01:10.580 is to try and tackle the supply chain crisis, encourage vaccination,
00:01:15.220 not ignore problems and divide the country like Mr. Trudeau does.
00:01:18.540 You didn't answer my question about whether you...
00:01:21.720 Yes, I did, Glenn.
00:01:22.500 You didn't say whether you...
00:01:23.220 Vaccines are a critical tool.
00:01:24.120 You didn't say whether you'd meet with them.
00:01:24.820 And we need to make sure we keep store shelves full.
00:01:27.440 Maybe you can answer in response to my next question, sir.
00:01:30.720 You can say whether you'd meet with them.
00:01:32.260 That's why last week, Glenn, when the policy of the federal government
00:01:34.960 for less than 24 hours reversed on the situation with trucking,
00:01:40.400 the government was floating whether they could actually change their policy
00:01:44.360 to address the supply chain shortage, and they decided not to.
00:01:48.600 I've always said getting vaccination levels up,
00:01:51.340 but also using rapid tests and other tools to make sure products get to store shelves,
00:01:57.340 that's what a government needs to do, and that's what we'll continue to advocate for.
00:02:00.960 You and other conservatives have called for reasonable accommodations
00:02:04.720 for truckers in particular who are unvaccinated and who could lose their job,
00:02:10.100 and that policy, according to you, could have widespread implications on our economy.
00:02:15.860 But now that there are unvaccinated truckers rolling into Ottawa,
00:02:19.820 you won't say whether you support them.
00:02:21.740 You won't say whether you will meet with them.
00:02:24.000 So what should Canadians think about your position?
00:02:26.800 Do you not support the trucking convoy?
00:02:29.840 I support getting as many people vaccinated as possible, including truckers.
00:02:34.500 And I've probably, with the exception of a few doctors who are on TV every day,
00:02:38.900 I've probably encouraged vaccination more than any Canadian.
00:02:43.360 And that's our most critical tool to reduce the severity of COVID,
00:02:48.900 but also to get this public health crisis under control.
00:02:52.540 I've also said there's going to be opportunity to use rapid tests
00:02:56.540 and a range of issues to tackle real issues.
00:03:00.200 We have a supply chain crisis right now that is helping fuel inflation,
00:03:04.980 in addition to Mr. Trudeau's spending and other policies.
00:03:07.940 How can we tackle that by prioritizing vaccines, prioritizing public health,
00:03:14.160 but reducing pink slips and getting goods on shelves?
00:03:17.820 I think that's what governments at all levels have to do.
00:03:21.460 So what's your message then to truckers who have maybe spent the past month
00:03:26.800 thinking that you kind of have their backs
00:03:29.540 and calling for reasonable accommodations and rapid tests?
00:03:32.180 And again, you still won't answer.
00:03:33.520 Will you meet with them when they come to Ottawa?
00:03:35.100 Do you support their efforts and coming all the way here?
00:03:39.340 What's your message to truckers who might be disappointed
00:03:41.680 that you are dodging questions and when you won't say whether you'll meet with them?
00:03:45.860 Well, let me be crystal clear.
00:03:47.980 We've been meeting with the Canadian Trucking Association for several months.
00:03:52.820 In fact, we've written the minister on this.
00:03:54.760 And at every occasion, I encourage truckers to get vaccinated.
00:04:00.220 That's the best way to keep supplies flowing.
00:04:03.180 And that's how we have to tackle this pandemic.
00:04:06.440 Get as many people vaccinated as possible
00:04:08.280 and also use all the other tools that we have
00:04:11.260 to make sure we don't see shortages on shelves.
00:04:14.000 Because what happens with shortages means prices go up.
00:04:18.100 And at a time we have record inflation, Canadians can't afford that.
00:04:21.640 That's why I'm calling for a break today for Canadian families.
00:04:25.040 But let's be crystal clear.
00:04:26.780 We can advocate for vaccines,
00:04:28.840 but also advocate for people to not lose their house or their home or their livelihood
00:04:33.740 if we can come up with a way to tackle the supply chain crisis
00:04:38.140 in a way that's practical.
00:04:40.000 Mr. Trudeau's government flip-flopped a week or so ago.
00:04:42.880 They attack me with all regularity.
00:04:45.900 They don't provide solutions.
00:04:47.980 And they're raising taxes on Canadians,
00:04:50.720 60% of which, that's millions of people
00:04:53.440 already saying they're struggling to pay their grocery bills.
00:04:56.220 So let's give them more money in their pockets
00:04:58.000 and let's tackle the supply chain shortage at the same time.