The Government of Canada continues to act on promises made in Budget 2025 to tackle the Driver Inc. misclassification scheme in trucking.
Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for labour announced they have tasked officials to form a national, multi-level government working group to jointly develop a plan on addressing misclassification in the trucking industry, and to report back on progress in the fall of 2026.
“We applaud the Government of Canada and the provinces for continuing to show their commitment to end the misclassification crisis in the trucking industry known as Driver Inc,” said CTA president and CEO Stephen Laskowski. “CTA and the provincial associations will be working with all ministers to ensure the plan reflects the scope of the problem. No stone should be left unturned as this scam has deep and widespread roots.”
CTA will continue to reiterate its message that provincial and federal agencies need to work together on misclassification enforcement, including workers’ compensation boards, revenue departments, and ministries of transportation.
“The only way misclassification will stop is if enforcement is vast, continuous, aggressive and consequential. The penalties must not be the cost of doing business,” said Laskowski. “Years of provincial and federal misclassification enforcement blitzes like those conducted by ESDC, WSIB in Ontario and other roadside initiatives throughout Canada have been an eye opener. They have revealed just how massive this problem is in Canada’s trucking industry. The ministers must adapt a comprehensive and meaningful enforcement program that coordinates intelligence among federal and provincial agencies, bringing with it enforcement abilities with real teeth and significant penalties.”
OTA this week launched a campaign that engages the public and encourages MPPs to act against Driver Inc, the erosion of safety standards, and general lawlessness in trucking. To participate, click here.