Earlier this month the federal government began hearings on the state of the trucking industry and the role that Driver Inc. is playing in the deterioration of worker rights, tax evasion and highway safety.
While the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) believes the federal government plays a large role in addressing matters related to tax evasion and labour rights, Ontario also needs also to accelerate its enforcement actions to overcome the safety and compliance crisis throughout the Ontario trucking industry.
“OTA recognizes the strong steps and leadership taken by Minister Sarkaria and Minister Piccini in helping address the labour abuse and increase of unsafe carriers in the trucking industry; but, unfortunately, it’s not close to enough to deal with the crisis,” said OTA’s president and CEO Stephen Laskowski. “We have proposed a plan to the Ministers we strongly believe will help ensure all carriers operating on public roadways are held accountable to meeting their required safety and labour obligations, and that the honour system of compliance, which has been ignored for years, is finally put to rest.”
The OTA has proposed the following:
- The ONIP program for trucking be suspended for 12-18 months until suitable controls (Known Employer Program) are put in place.
- The satisfactory-unaudited category be eliminated, and that both new and existing companies must go through an audit review on a regular basis, the timeline of which will be determined though industry-government consultation.
- All truck inspections stations are open 24/7 with regular staffing of the relevant federal departments and provincial ministries and law enforcement officials that have touchpoints with the trucking industry.
- The revamping of the current commercial licensing system to a vocational standard/endorsement system based on configuration types.
“The trucking industry has changed, and not for the better. To keep pace and proactively manage the situation we need to ensure the oversight regime is modernized and proper enforcement resources allocated,” said OTA Sr. VP Policy, Geoff Wood. ”Currently, close to 90 percent of trucking fleets operating have never been audited by MTO officials. This needs to change quickly. Every restaurant in the province is inspected to ensure compliance and to protect the health of Ontarians; and we need at least that level of oversight brought to trucking operations.”
Regarding the ONIP program, OTA reiterates its historical position that immigration will be one of the key pieces of the labour puzzle to ensure Ontario’s economy has enough experienced and well-trained drivers to move, but we must ensure the system is not open to labour abuse of new people to Canada.
“OTA has long supported the use of the OINP to help tackle Ontario’s persistent shortage of qualified drivers and keep goods moving across the province. However, the province and the industry have a responsibility to ensure the program is being used properly,” said Jonathan Blackham, OTA Director of Policy and Public Affairs. “Now is the time to review how the program is working and implement the necessary oversight to ensure newcomers are only being hired by legitimate, compliant carriers who will treat them fairly and set them up for long-term success.”