The underground economy is thriving in Canada’s trucking industry because the federal government refuses to take meaningful action against those in the trucking industry who cheat, defraud the system and exploit their own workers. We need everyone in the industry to tell their MP that their party needs to do something about it.
Canadian businesses who pay their fair share and comply with Canadian rules and regulations are saying enough is enough. And every political party needs to stand up for them.
To support this initiative, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is launching a new email generating campaign designed to let political leaders know our voices count.
“OTA and others who seek justice have been told repeatedly that meaningful and effective enforcement against this organized corruption has not occurred because of a political consideration,” said OTA chair Mark Bylsma. “That effectively tells everyone who does obey the law and operate responsible and compliant businesses that we don’t matter. Well, we’re here to say loud and clear – ‘we do matter.’ And our votes count.’”
A federal election will be taking place in 2025, and this campaign will help raise more awareness of the industry’s concerns leading up to the election.
The campaign – CLICK HERE – gives a voice to people and businesses. It tells your local MP and all the federal ministers responsible for putting an end to this crisis, to do the right thing and enforce Canadian law. It is critical this issue is front and centre for each party in the new year.
We also strongly encourage each worker and employees who value their employment rights, mandated entitlements, and job security, to do the same. We have crafted a separate memo that specifically speaks to your employees and explains how the Driver Inc. scheme threatens them directly. Click here (EN and FR) or see attached to download and please send to all your drivers and employees.
“What the government needs to understand is that legitimate companies and workers are fed up with these schemes, as well as the refusal by authorities to do anything about it,” says Bylsma.
The OTA chair is imploring all OTA members and other businesses impacted by the Driver Inc scheme to click on the campaign site and send a letter – and strongly encourage each worker and employee who value their employment rights and mandated entitlements to do the same.
“We will not give up this fight, because Driver Inc is an existential threat to our society as well as every company that operates responsibly, pays their taxes and provides workers with the benefits and fair pay they are entitled to,” he says.
Specifically, the campaign demands action on the following issues:
- CRA commit to a meaningful enforcement on the personal service business model, which has been abused and exploited by Driver Inc companies to avoid paying required taxes.
- Reinstitute the mandatory issuance of T4As, which will go a long way to exposing the abuse of the PSB system and misclassification.
- Expedite the information sharing agreement between CRA and ESDC to help facilitate enforcement.
- Continue and increase support to ESDC so it has the proper resources to effectively enforce the rules.
- Put an end to government corporations like Canada Post and LCBO from awarding contracts to service providers who are known labour and tax cheats.
“This isn’t complicated. All we are asking from government is that it upholds our nation’s tax and labour laws,” says Bylsma. “We have reached a crisis point in the trucking industry and responsible and compliant companies want to see clear and immediate action. Those who run their businesses fairly and honestly deserve to be heard. It’s time the federal government stops ignoring them and finally does the right thing.”
Again, CLICK HERE to send a letter yourself. It just takes a few seconds. And please send this memo to all employees, truck drivers and team members and urge them to have their voices heard too!