State Rep. David Martin today sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urging her to work with her partners in the U.S. and Canada to end the vaccine policies that have led to protests shutting down truck traffic at the Ambassador Bridge.

The U.S. and Canada both currently require all individuals seeking to cross the border, including truckers, to be fully vaccinated.

Martin, of Davison, said the controversial policy – which forces working men and women to choose between providing for their family and making a personal medical choice – is at the heart of the protests causing interruptions to the auto industry’s supply chain.

“As our economy continues to rebound from the effects of the pandemic, truckers are essential to supporting the economy in Michigan, and particularly the auto industry supply chain,” the letter reads. “In the last 24 hours, we have watched with consternation as automotive plants began to cancel shifts and cut hours due to reduced trucking shipments arriving at their destination. We are confident that more shutdowns will take place if you do not work with your federal and Canadian partners to end vaccine mandates at the border.

“Madam Governor, with COVID rates in Michigan dropping almost 60% in the last week, and positive test rates falling to 3-month low, it’s time to let Michigan’s economy run at its full potential. We again urge you to do your part to end vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the international border with Canada.”

The United States and Canada share the world’s longest international border, with over $1.8 billion in goods crossing each day. The Ambassador Bridge in particular carries a quarter of all trade between the two countries.

A full copy of the letter is available here.