The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is urging Minister of Labour David Piccini to demonstrate the same leadership he recently applied to the Skilled Trades Immigration Stream and temporarily suspend the trucking industry’s access to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
OTA is calling for immediate action to address systemic fraud and abuse within the program – issues the association says are contributing to human trafficking, labour exploitation, and unsafe conditions on Ontario’s highways.
“Our sector continues to grapple with carriers who misuse immigration programs as a revenue scheme and a source of forced labour to fuel their profits,” said OTA president & CEO Stephen Laskowski. “This behaviour is harming workers, damaging the reputation of the trucking sector, and jeopardizing highway safety. We called on the province earlier this year to temporarily suspend the OINP for our industry, and we again asking the Minister to prioritize a review and pause the program to ensure future participants are placed with safe, compliant carriers.”
The Province of Ontario confirmed last week its review of the OINP Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream uncovered widespread compliance and enforcement issues. According to the government:
“The review identified systemic misrepresentation and/or fraud relating to Skilled Trades Stream eligibility criteria… As currently structured, the Skilled Trades Stream is vulnerable to systemic misrepresentation and/or fraud. This vulnerability undermines the Skilled Trades Stream’s ability to meet the immediate labour market needs of the province…”
OTA maintains the OINP will continue to be an important tool for addressing future labour needs in the trucking sector. However, the association stresses that meaningful reforms are urgently required to restore integrity and ensure the program is used exclusively by legitimate operators.
“We have long championed the OINP; OTA was the first to advocate for our industry’s inclusion,” said Jonathan Blackham, director of Policy and Public Affairs. “But significant program issues must be resolved. Now is the time to take corrective action so the OINP is protected from abuse and remains responsive to the needs of responsible, compliant businesses.”