Op-Ed Takes Aim at California's Prop 47
Theft wave & organized smash & grab shoplifting show CA law needs change
If any California proposition of the last half-century is an obvious candidate for a major rewrite, it is the 2014 Proposition 47, which made it a small-time offense to steal anything worth less than $950, unless you have a history of violent crimes.

For sure, it is under threat. Lawmakers have introduced measures to cancel most of Prop. 47 or increase penalties for some crimes it covers. Many police say this law is a major factor in the wave of shoplifting that has plagued cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles and closed many stores. They also blame it for so-called “smash-and-grab” heists — involving up to 80 people — during Thanksgiving week.

It’s true that a variety of police and media studies have shown crimes like larceny are up about 9% since the new value limits — up from the prior $250 petty theft limit — were raised eight years ago. At the same time, because some felonies suddenly became misdemeanors, police and prosecutors started simply arresting, booking and releasing defendants when a crime involved less value than $950.

This went without much fanfare until the smash-and-grab crimes highlighted the weaknesses of Prop. 47. Plus, private security contractors report a dramatic upswing in orders for burglar alarm systems since Thanksgiving. That trend actually began shortly after the nationally televised, organized burglaries and robberies in downtown Santa Monica last May, when police didn’t bother intervening while people plundered shops, some of which later closed.

Security patrols in wealthy areas like Malibu and Bel Air also report higher demand. At the same time, custom car modifiers report an upswing in demand for bulletproof vehicles. Other reports add that stocks of fake Rolex and Omega watches like those often sold by street vendors in cities like Shanghai and Buenos Aires are being snapped up, owners of genuine high-end products hesitating to wear actual bling in public.

Newsom responds to all this by saying “We want real accountability, we want people prosecuted and we want people to feel safe. But others question if that’s possible while Prop. 47 remains intact. That initiative easily withstood the threat of changes from Prop. 20 in the last general election. But criminals may have changed public thinking, at least somewhat. That makes Prop. 47 ripe for at least some legislative changes. desertsun.com

Curbing Crime in New York City
New York Times Op-Ed: The Right Way to Stop Rising Crime in New York

New York remains among the safest large cities in America, despite rising crime.

The causes of crime are complex, and New York’s rise in shootings mirrors a national trend. Homicides during the pandemic, for instance, have been on the rise in cities run by Republicans and Democrats, cities that liberalized their anti-crime policies and those that did not. So far, opponents of New York’s criminal justice reforms have not yet made the case that reforms directly fueled a rise in crime, and in the meantime, the new Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, has made clear he remains committed to prosecuting serious crime.

Lasting solutions to what ails New York City will go beyond the police and prosecutors. They will require buy-in from leaders across the state, as well as public money to pay for them. New York needs more supportive housing and services for people confronting mental illness and addiction, rather than allowing these vulnerable individuals to languish in subway stations.

The city needs a Police Department laser focused on fighting violence while still respecting the civil liberties of residents in the city it is entrusted to protect. That work likely includes more funding for community anti-violence groups that have been credited with preventing gun crimes over the past decade. This would be made easier if Washington could enact common-sense gun laws to end the so-called iron pipeline that sends guns from less restrictive states in the South and Midwest to cities like New York.

The right solutions aren’t quick, easy or conducive to political touchdowns. But they will make New York a safer, healthier and more humane place to live, work and visit. With new leadership at City Hall, in Albany and at the Manhattan district attorney’s office, New York has an opportunity to get this right. A weary city is waiting. nytimes.com

'Massive Release of Violent Criminals' in Oregon
Oregon’s progressive governor's clemency push comes amid violent crime spike

In Portland, Oregon’s largest city, police statistics show 85 homicides in 2021, up from 57 in 2020

With violent crime on the rise in big cities around the country, Oregon’s progressive governor is pioneering the power of executive clemency, prompting an outcry from prosecutors in her state charged with putting dangerous criminals behind bars.

"This is the massive release of violent criminals through a process, which violates the legal requirements of law," said Kevin Mannix, the president of Common Sense for Oregon and the lawyer whose firm is bringing a lawsuit against Gov. Kate Brown on behalf of two district attorneys and the families of three murder victims.

In Portland, Oregon’s largest city, police statistics show 85 homicides in 2021, up from 57 in 2020. There were 36 in 2019 – and 26 the year before that. Mannix and the plaintiffs have taken issue with the nearly 1,000 convicts who Brown has allowed to leave prison early after March 2020.

"Recidivism, or repeat conviction rate, for violent criminals is at least 40%," Mannix told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "Sure, we try to rehabilitate people. We try to change their lives, and we should keep trying. But the prediction I would make is that 40% of these violent criminals are going to commit another violent crime."

On an individual basis, Mannix said, the governor has the right and the power to grant clemency. But there are policies on how to do so that he alleges she is flouting.

"[The petitioners] seek Mandamus to order suspension of illegal sentence reductions which are being carried out under the Governor’s asserted clemency power, but which violate the clemency requirements of the Oregon Constitution and Oregon laws," the filing reads. foxnews.com

Biden Points the Finger at 'Defund the Police' Movement
White House blames 'underfunding of police departments' for violent crime spike

Democratic cities across America pledged to slash police funding after 2020 uprisings

White House press secretary Jen Psaki blamed the "underfunding" of some police forces for the spike in crime gripping America. During the White House press briefing on Monday, Psaki was asked by Fox News’ Peter Doocy on what the Biden administration believes is fueling the crime surge that has stunned Americans.

Psaki pointed to "gun violence" as a "huge reason" for the uptick in crime as well as the "underfunding of some police departments and their need for additional resources."

The press secretary said that President Biden has "advocated" for additional resources for police "consistently" throughout his multi-decade political career and is something the White House knows "we need to take action on."

"And it is absolutely true that he will not be satisfied or complacent when officers are being gunned down or when Americans have to worry about whether they can safely ride the subway or bus," Psaki said, again pointing to Biden’s pushing of police funding in his political career. "That should not be a political issue."

Several police departments across America saw their funding slashed as the far-left "defund the police" movement gained steam, after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. foxnews.com

Crime Surge is Upending Criminal Justice Reform Debate
Biden looks to navigate a 'moment of reckoning for Democrats' on crime
Last year, cities from Portland, Ore., to Philadelphia recorded more murders than they have in decades. New York, the nation’s most populous city, saw 488 murders, a 10-year high. The city’s new Democratic mayor, former police officer Eric Adams, was elected last year in a landslide after running as a tough-on-crime pragmatist with little patience for progressive rhetoric — or ideas.

The White House is plainly aware that there is a growing demand for a more sweeping acknowledgment of high crime. If addressing the issue is potentially risky, refraining from such a confrontation could only enforce voters’ perceptions that Biden is too concerned with fulfilling progressives’ wishes to listen to their concerns.

Voters are also starting to tire of criminal justice policies that they say foster disorder and make them feel unsafe. In San Francisco, 80,000 people endorsed moving forward with a recall of Boudin, the embattled district attorney — 30,000 more than was required for the recall petition to be certified.

“There’s a proper way to execute reform,” said San Francisco prosecutor Brooke Jenkins, who has since joined the effort to recall Boudin. “It is not simply to open the jail and let everyone out. It is not simply to refuse to prosecute crime.”

Progressives say that media outlets amplify reports of crime. CNN media critic Brian Stelter recently denounced Fox News reporting that, in his view, rendered American cities “apocalyptic hellscapes” governed by socialists. news.yahoo.com

New Crime Package Zeroes in on Retail Theft
'We need help'; how a retail crime bill plans to help businesses facing robbery
In recent years, robberies are happening more in the Albuquerque area, which is why she hopes a crime package gets passed this legislative session.

“They need to crack down on these criminals. It's terrible. We work so hard day and night. All of us business owners and small business owners are what really keep the economy going. And we need help. We need help," Velarde said.

“We're trying to help those local business owners keep their doors open. And so when they suffer a loss, such as this lady, it is very costly to their business,” said Rep. Bill Rehm, a member of the New Mexico Legislature. He said his crime package includes a plan to fight retail crime.

“Criminals know that if they steal under $500, it's a misdemeanor. So they go to one store, they steal under $500, they go to the next store, do the same thing and then they collect all these items and then start selling them,” Rehm said.

Rehm said rather than take each charge individually, his bill would charge someone based on the total amount stolen, something Velarde thinks is needed at this point.

“Help us pass those laws. Get those criminals locked up. Take care of us," Velarde said. koat.com

Shoplifting Spiking In New York Amid Concerns About Organized Retail Crime
There's been a spike in shoplifting in New York City. The NYPD says it hasn't seen levels like this since 1995, and elsewhere around the country, organized retail crime is ramping up.

US: 73.4M Cases - 894.8K Dead - 45.1M Recovered
Worldwide: 359.8M Cases - 5.6M Dead - 284.9M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 344  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 622
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Covid-19 in the U.S. by State and Territory

Nationwide Cases Finally Declining
U.S. Coronavirus Cases Decrease, But Many States Have Yet to Peak

While nationwide cases are declining, the U.S. is still well above any previous peak the country has seen.

National coronavirus cases are trending in the right direction, according to the Biden administration’s top doctors, but many states are still seeing increases in infections as the omicron variant’s wave remains far from over.

The U.S. was averaging 716,000 daily new cases on Friday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. That’s a drop from the previous high of nearly 800,000 cases reported on average each day in mid-January.

She noted “steep declines” in cases in areas that first saw omicron surges, like New York, Rhode Island and Connecticut. But more than 20 states are seeing increasing case rates, including Alabama, North Dakota, Arizona and Hawaii, according to data compiled by USAFacts. usnews.com

New York Mask Mandate Struck Down - Then Reinstated
NY Mask Mandate Back in Effect After Judge Grants Stay During State's Appeal
An appeals judge restored New York’s mask mandate Tuesday, a day after a judge in a lower court ruled that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration lacked the constitutional authority to order people to wear face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After hearing brief arguments, Appellate Division Justice Robert Miller granted the state's request to keep the masking rule in place while the governor's administration pursues an appeal. He offered no opinion on the mandate's legality.

The state had initially instituted a mask mandate in April 2020 that ended in June 2021 for vaccinated individuals; Hochul announced in mid-December that it would go back into effect for at least a month. Earlier this month, the state health department said the mandate would be in place until Feb 1.

The order required masks in schools, health care facilities, homeless shelters, jails, public transportation, and in any indoor public area where vaccination wasn't required for entry. nbcnewyork.com

Business Vaccine Mandate Officially Dead
Biden administration to withdraw Covid-19 vaccination and testing regulation aimed at large businesses
The Biden administration is withdrawing its Covid-19 vaccination and testing regulation aimed at large businesses, following the Supreme Court's decision to block the rule earlier this month.

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday it will be withdrawing the vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard for businesses with 100 or more employees, according to a statement on the agency's website.

"Although OSHA is withdrawing the vaccination and testing ETS as an enforceable emergency temporary standard, the agency is not withdrawing the ETS as a proposed rule. The agency is prioritizing its resources to focus on finalizing a permanent COVID-19 Healthcare Standard," the statement read.

The withdrawal of the emergency temporary standard "does not affect the ETS's continuing status as a proposed rule," a US Department of Labor spokesperson told CNN in a statement.

The decision comes less than two weeks after the Supreme Court blocked the rule, dealing a major blow to President Joe Biden's attempts to use the power of the federal government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. OSHA's regulation required businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure their workers are fully vaccinated or undergo regular testing and wear face coverings at work. cnn.com

Business Groups Oppose New COVID Sick Leave Proposal in Calif.
Calif. workers could get up 2 weeks paid time off if they get sick from COVID

The state had a similar law in place last year, but it expired in September as the spread of the virus slowed significantly.

California workers would get up to two weeks of paid time off if they get sick from the coronavirus while businesses would get up to $6 billion in tax cuts and other assistance under a proposal endorsed Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state's top legislative leaders.

California had a similar law in place last year, but it expired in September as the spread of the virus slowed significantly. But since then, a more contagious version of the virus has spread quickly through California and the rest of the world. Labor unions - major donors to Democratic politicians in California - have pressured state officials to bring the paid sick leave law back.

Business groups have opposed the extra sick leave as many industries are already struggling to retain workers during the pandemic. Last year, businesses could get a federal tax credit to offset some of the costs. But that tax credit is not available this year.

The proposal would only apply to companies with at least 26 workers. If it becomes law, it would expire in September, as business groups have pushed for any sick leave law to be limited in duration. abc7.com

COVID's Long-Term Impact on Work
Workers Care More About Flexible Hours Than Remote Work

New survey of more than 10,000 knowledge workers found 95% want to set their own hours

Workers, flush with power as employers raise wages and scramble to fill open jobs, say they care even more about flexible schedules than whether or not they go into an office.

Ninety-five percent of people surveyed want flexible hours, compared with 78% of workers who want location flexibility, according to a new report from Future Forum, a consortium focused on reimagining the future of work led by Slack Technologies Inc.

The new data, collected in November 2021 from a survey of more than 10,000 knowledge workers, offers a snapshot into just how popular hybrid arrangements have become in the second year of the pandemic, how virtually all workers prize schedule flexibility above all and the growing concerns that many bosses have about how to keep promotions and pay fair when some employees are in the office while others stay home.

The survey also found that 72% of workers who weren’t happy with their level of flexibility—whether time or location—are likely to seek out a new opportunity in the next year.

Focusing on how many hours people are working is outdated, she said: “It really needs to be a shift from presenteeism and activity tracking to actually understanding the results that people are driving and the value that they’re creating.” wsj.com

Retail's Free Mask Rollout Continues
Kroger and Meijer offering N95 masks at no charge in Michigan stores
Kroger and Meijer stores in Michigan are offering N95 masks at no charge to customers beginning Tuesday while supplies last. Both retailers are an access point for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to distribute masks. All Kroger and Meijer stores with a pharmacy are offering up to three masks at no charge to customers.

At Meijer, masks will be located on a table near the greeter station at the grocery entrance. The greeter will organize them in stacks of three for each customer to take. Meijer has about 3 million N95 masks on hand to give away.

At Kroger, look for a branded display or ask a store associate for help finding the complimentary masks. He did not say how many masks Kroger stores have available to distribute in Michigan. abc12.com

NYC's Omicron Surge Fading Fast
New York state has seen an 86% decrease in COVID cases since its Jan. 7 peak, when more than 90,000 cases were reported.

Germany: Lawmakers debate introducing COVID vaccine mandate

2022: A Year of More Challenges for Security Industry
Challenges for the guarding industry

The continued pandemic, labor shortages, a shift in the hybrid and remote workforce, and other factors have led to an increased threat landscape, hiring challenges and changing roles of security officers.

Increasing commercial activity across a variety of economic sectors and difficulties in hiring new personnel have created a set of challenges for guarding companies and their clients as the pandemic continues and the calendar turns to 2022.

Many enterprises continue to have all or large portions of their workforce remote, which has changed the threat landscape and reimagined the job of security officers in many ways. Enterprise security leaders and guarding companies are also leveraging people and technology differently than before the pandemic.

Workplaces mirror their communities, which means those businesses and locations face the same social and political issues, says David Komendat, Vice President and Chief Security Officer for The Boeing Co. Security organizations must work closely with human resources, safety, legal and communications to address these issues effectively and reduce the risk of disruption, he says.

Drexel University in Philadelphia has been working to keep doors and security locking systems up to date while also integrating and updating its more than 700 cameras mounted at facilities, with plans to roll out body-worn cameras in the coming months for officers themselves, says Eileen Behr, Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police at Drexel University. “Even though we’re campus police, we’re part of police reform,” she says. As such, her on-campus department has required “additional training for officers in de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.”

Securitas has made a multimillion-dollar investment in digital transformation to enhance transparency and data-driven insights, as well as to accelerate innovations in areas like solar-powered devices and remote reception, says Greg Anderson, Securitas President and CEO, North American Guarding. The company has evolved the role of officers to meet the needs of organizations that moved to remote or hybrid operations, he says.

GardaWorld subsidiary BEST Crowd Management, previously known as Whelan Event Services, spent a year trying to figure out how to reopen venues and convention centers with protocols and procedures to keep employees and guests safe, says Jeff Spoerndle, Vice President at BEST. That reopening happened quickly in the early spring, requiring enforcement of mask mandates and managing line queues to keep social distancing in concourse areas. “As more people got vaccinated, it became more normal,” he says, adding that the next step has been managing vaccine mandates. securitymagazine.com

Retail's Cashier-less Future?
The future of retail is all about self-service & technology

Self-checkout, self-service, autonomous stores, DIY: The retail world is prepping for a future with fewer human workers and more technology involved in selling us stuff.

Why it matters: While 72% of retail sales are still expected to take place in brick-and-mortar stores in 2024, merchants are busy installing interactive signage, smart price tags, and remote checkout systems that point to a very different customer experience.

Trends like "buy online, pick up in store" (BOPIS) and "buy online, return in store" (BORIS) are being joined by ROPIS (reserve online, pick up in store). Cashier-less checkout is going mainstream — both because stores like Amazon Go have the technology to do it and because finding workers is so difficult.

How it works: Companies like Zliide are coming up with tech that keeps people coming to stores, but lets them buy stuff without taking it to a register. You can check out on the spot through Apple Pay — no salesperson needed — and get a digital receipt.

Driving the news: Judging from a stroll through the National Retail Federation's big annual trade show in New York City last week, the role of salespeople in retail stores will evolve and wane — possibly to the frustration of shoppers, who may want more in-person help.

As smart tags on merchandise make cashiers obsolete, retailers will be tempted to staff stores more thinly. QR codes on in-store signage will direct people to promotions and other information that'll also help them shop without assistance. axios.com

NRF Retail Returns Report
Retail Returns Increased to $761B in 2021 as a Result of Overall Sales Growth
Retailers expect more than $761 billion in merchandise sold last year to be returned by consumers, according to a report released today by the National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail. This accounts for an average of 16.6 percent of total U.S. retail sales, which soared to $4.583 trillion in 2021.

The 2021 total rate of returns (16.6 percent) is up from 10.6 percent during 2020, but online returns in 2021 are in line with recent years at an average of 20.8 percent. According to NRF, online sales accounted for $1.050 trillion of total U.S. retail sales last year. Approximately $218 billion of online purchases were returned, with $23.2 billion (10.6 percent) deemed fraudulent.

According to the survey, for every $1 billion in sales, the average retailer incurs $166 million in merchandise returns. It also found that for every $100 in returned merchandise accepted, retailers lose $10.30 to return fraud. The categories with the highest return rates were similar to 2020 metrics: auto parts (19.4 percent), apparel (12.2 percent) and home improvement and housewares (tied at 11.5 percent). The most common types of payment used during the original purchase that led to a return were credit cards (22.78 percent), cash (12.69 percent) and debit cards (7.04 percent).

“Retailers must rethink returns as a key part of their business strategy,” said Steve Prebble, CEO of Appriss Retail. “Retail is dealing with an influx of returned items. Now is the time to stop thinking of returns as a cost of doing business and begin to view them as a time to truly engage with your consumers.” nrf.com

Victoria's Secret will sell stake in China business for $45M

Neiman Marcus names supply chain chief to oversee $90M investment

U.S. ORC Epidemic Makes Canadian News Media

A ‘Perfect Storm’ for Criminal Activity
US-Style Smash-and-Grab Retail Crime Expected for Canada

By Sean Tarry, Retail Insider

For loss prevention professionals, the new retail landscape and expanding ecosystem changes their jobs substantially, presenting them with a host of new challenges and threats to consider and address. Not least of these potential threats, according to industry expert and President of retail consultancy Bottom Line Matters, Stephen O’Keefe, are incidents of smash-and-grab style attacks against retail locations similar to those that are occurring with frequency in California. And, they are incidents that he warns will inevitably occur north of the border as a result of a ‘perfect storm’ for criminals operating across the country.

“There are a few factors that have been contributing for some time toward the creation of a scenario that’s ideal for the type of criminal activity that they’re currently experiencing on the West Coast of the United States,” he asserts. “Reductions to law enforcement budgets and the number of active police officers in provinces and cities across the country has been a growing issue over the course of the past decade or so. It’s a serious problem on its own for a number of different reasons. ... The result is a scenario which presents criminals with very little risk and plenty of potential reward, and retailers everywhere with a serious dilemma.”

Copycats in Canada?

O’Keefe also points to unfortunate economic conditions that have been brought about by the pandemic as another layer of influence adding to the complexities of the ‘perfect storm’, rendering certain areas of the country more susceptible to crime. South of the border, San Francisco is an example of one such place that’s been blighted by smash-and-grab crimes against retail locations. It’s an alarming situation, and one that O’Keefe believes should serve as a warning of sorts to retailers operating in Canada.

“Circumstances in San Francisco, and now other parts of California, have gone from bad to worse,” he says. “It’s concerning for everyone involved. ... These crimes are catching the attention of quite a few retailers in Canada. They’re starting to ask whether or not these types of crimes will migrate north of the border. And the short answer is: yes, they absolutely will, unless the threat is dealt with appropriately by retailers and law enforcement.”

Developing appropriate response

It’s a situation that O’Keefe explains has been made that much more difficult to accurately understand and address as a result of a lack of reporting on the part of retailers. In both the United States and Canada, he says, industry players often refrain from doing so to law enforcement because retail crime, incidents of shoplifting in particular, do not receive adequate attention from the legal system. Non-reporting lends to the creation of inaccurate data that skews perception and undermines the seriousness of the crimes being committed. And, with the smash-and-grab trend sweeping across the United States, O’Keefe says that there are considerable concerns mounting here at home with respect to the ways in which the threat of these types of crimes can be properly dealt with.

The power of loss prevention management systems | Read full article here


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Canada's Retail Vaccine Mandates
Walmart, Costco and other big box stores in Canada begin enforcing vaccine mandates, and some shoppers aren’t buying it

Some Canadian retailers are now requiring proof of vaccination due to local regulations, resulting in some critics calling to boycott Walmart in response

Local regulations in the Canadian province of Quebec taking effect this week mandate that big box stores like Walmart, IKEA and Costco require customers over the age of 13 to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before entering.

But some customers took to Twitter to express their displeasure with the new guidelines, leading the hashtag #BoycottWalmart to trend on Tuesday. And they were supported by some American shoppers also protesting vaccine mandates.

Another sticking point for critics: viral photos of plexiglass dividers at some Walmarts in Quebec, which some falsely suggested were meant to isolate unvaccinated people trying to enter the store. Walmart has debunked those accusations, however, explaining in tweets that the dividers are for store employees to check vaccine passports.

On the flip side, many on Twitter supported the guidelines and the intent to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect workers and customers from the virus that has infected more than 355.5 million people globally, and killed more than 5.61 million.

But it goes to show that the U.S. is certainly not the only place where vaccine mandates have become a contentious issue. marketwatch.com

COVID Wave Worsening Labor & Product Shortages
Grocery store closures loom amid labour, product shortages

Grocery stores are struggling with rising labour and product shortages that could threaten Canada's food security, experts say.

Employee absenteeism due to workers calling in sick and COVID-19 protocols has hit about 30 per cent at some stores and is continuing to rise, Gary Sands, senior vice-president of public policy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, said Tuesday.

Without access to rapid testing in many provinces, he said workers are repeatedly forced to isolate for a week or more after an exposure to COVID-19. If the situation worsens, some grocery stores won't be able to stay open - threatening food security in rural and remote areas that rely on a sole independent grocer, Sands said.

“If we have to keep sending people home, at a certain point stores are not going to be able to operate,” he said. “We're very frustrated with the lack of rapid test kits for grocers.”

Health Canada has made some rapid test kits available directly to companies in critical sectors, including the food industry, with 200 or more employees. But many independent grocery stores don't meet that threshold, putting those kits out of reach, Sands said.

Yet many grocers cannot obtain rapid tests through provinces either, he said. Meanwhile, stores are also experiencing a shortage of goods stemming from supply chain issues, including a shortage of truckers, packaging and processing delays and the Canadian winter. ctvnews.ca

Business Call for Delay to Vaccine Mandate
Delay vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers, business groups urge Trudeau

'What we are asking for is that they delay implementation at a time when supply chains are under severe pressure and that they use that time to encourage and facilitate vaccinations'

Business leaders are urging Ottawa to ease vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers to relieve the congested supply chain with the United States. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended Monday the mandate as a necessary step to keep supply chains open, arguing that COVID-19 itself is the biggest risk to Canada’s economy.

But in separate statements the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition both urged him to back down.

Perrin Beatty, the president of the Chamber, said the government hasn’t produced statistics that show that truckers are a major source of COVID-19 infections in Canada.

“What we are asking for is that they delay implementation at a time when supply chains are under severe pressure and that they use that time to encourage and facilitate vaccinations.”

The Canadian Manufacturing Coalition, which represents over 30 manufacturing trade associations, called for a full reversal of the vaccine mandate after meeting Friday with Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. nationalpost.com

Vaccine Mandate Impact
Fruit and veggie outages in Canada get worse with trucker shortages
Canadian border agents began refusing entry to unvaccinated American truckers just days ago, and it’s already causing chaos -- particularly in fruit and vegetable markets. A mandate starting Jan. 15 requires truck drivers crossing into Canada to be vaccinated. However, only about half of American truck drivers have gotten their shots. Meanwhile, as much as 90 per cent of Canada’s fruits and vegetables comes from the U.S. during winter, and grocery stores are already having trouble getting some shipments, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.

“We’re seeing shortages,” said Gary Sands, senior vice president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. “We’re hearing from members they’re going into some stores where there’s no oranges or bananas.'”

The mandate is adding to Canada’s supply chain turmoil that was already abundant due to recent storms as well as the pandemic. Shipping snarls and logistical headwinds have been blamed for rising inflation across the globe. Prices for consumers will likely rise as freight costs soar. Sending one truckload of fresh produce from California or Arizona to Canada is now US$9,500, up from an average of US$7,000, according to North American Produce Buyers. That works out to an additional cost of 12 Canadian cents per head of lettuce, according to the company. bnnbloomberg.ca