The Chiefs of Ontario are echoing many of the concerns raised by the Ontario Trucking Association over the eroding level of highway truck safety and the increasing number of serious truck-related collisions in Northern Ontario, specifically along highways 11 and 17.
In a recent release, the Chiefs called on the province to increase efforts to improve safety along critical northern highways following several recent deadly collisions.
“These tragedies are devastating for our families and our Nations,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “Our people rely on northern highways as lifelines for health care, education, work and supplies. When those roads are unsafe, it is our communities who pay the price.”
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler added: “The government needs to take serious action on improving the safety of highways in Northern Ontario, their blatant disregard for the dangerous conditions that people are experiencing cannot continue, or more lives will be lost.”
The sentiments reflect serious concerns expressed for many years by the OTA.
OTA recently wrote the Chiefs supporting their position and asked to discuss common concerns, with a goal of shining light on ways to restore law and order to northern highways.
The Association explained it has been urging the province to step up enforcement of unlawful carriers who blatantly disregard highway safety, adequate driver training, tax and labour laws, among other non-compliant behaviour.
Specifically, OTA has called on the province to immediately:
- Eliminate the satisfactory-unaudited safety rating category to require regular audit or compliance reviews for both new and existing carriers.
- Open commercial vehicle inspection facilities 24/7 – staffed with appropriate federal and provincial enforcement agencies to review all applicable compliance with truck safety, labour and tax obligations while deterring, tax fraud, labour trafficking, and drug smuggling.
- Use of an endorsement-based truck licensing system based on vehicle configuration types and the treatment of Class A & D licenses as occupational licenses.
OTA has also repeatedly emphasized the need for improved highway infrastructure in Northern Ontario and winter road maintenance, as well as increased oversight of commercial trucking activities and truck driver training, especially in Northern Ontario.
OTA agrees with the Chiefs that the situation in Northern Ontario continues to deteriorate, underscoring much more must be done by the province to correct the situation as soon as possible.
OTA has also urged the province to hold a truck safety summit and implement an action plan in 2026 and is awaiting meaningful communication on how it plans to address the truck safety crisis throughout all of Ontario.