Why are some shelves empty at Canadian grocery stores? Experts weigh in

While some Canadians are reporting empty shelves in grocery stores across the country, experts say this is due to ongoing supply chain issues that began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, not because of the federal government's vaccine mandate for truckers.

A convoy of truckers and others opposed to public health restrictions is on its way from British Columbia to Parliament Hill for a weekend "freedom rally" against mandatory vaccinations.

Some supporters of the convoy have taken to social media to warn the vaccine mandate for truckers will leave Canadian store shelves empty, and others have gone so far as to predict Canadians will starve.

While there may be limited selection in stores, Dalhousie University professor of food distribution and policy Sylvain Charlebois says Canadians won't go hungry.

"Grocers know that empty shelves are bad for business… and [they] will make things move along the supply chain so consumers can leave grocery stores with products in their hands," Charlebois told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on Wednesday.