The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) welcomes new legislation introduced by the Ontario government which will grant enforcement officials more powers outside of the Emergency Act to better enable the province to immediately respond to future disruptions at provincial-US border crossings.
The proposed legislation would provide police officers with additional enforcement tools to impose roadside suspension of drivers’ licences and vehicle permits, seize licence plates when a vehicle is used in an illegal blockade and remove and store objects making up an illegal blockade.
“There are more than 16,000 commercial trucks that cross the Ontario-US border each day,” said OTA president and CEO, Stephen Laskowski. “These trucks are moving Ontario’s economy and when they are delayed in getting to market, our economy and those industries who rely on the trucking sector are negatively impacted. The Keeping Ontario Open for Business Act will protect Ontario’s economy and send a strong message to our American customers that our borders are being protected.”
Aside of the economic benefits, the Act will also help protect commercial truck drivers.
“The multiple-hour delays created by illegal blockades greatly disrupted the personal and professional lives of our hard-working truck drivers. With the enactment of this legislation, truck drivers can expect quick action against border blockades, which prevent them from doing their jobs, delivering freight on time and getting home safely to their families at the end of their work shift,” added Laskowski.
For more on this announcement click here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001813/ontario-keeping-province-open-for-business