At his first post-election press conference, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his government’s plan to cap the number of international students and temporary foreign workers.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is advising the Government of Canada and the future cabinet that immigration reform policy shouldn’t just be based on the number of immigrants, but also how newcomers are brought to Canada, which sectors they work for and, most importantly, scrutinizing the employers that employ these workers and ensuring all labour standards are laws are upheld.
“The Canadian Trucking Alliance has said repeatedly that immigration is one of the key pieces of the puzzle to address chronic driver shortages in our country,” said CTA President and CEO Stephen Laskowski. “But we need to prioritize the protection of workers and weed out abuse and forced labour that we know is taking place.”
Aaron Dolyniuk, Executive Director of the Manitoba Trucking Association, added, “The Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) strongly supports immigration reform that ensures newcomers arriving in Canada have the proper supports in place to succeed. We recognize that immigration is a vital tool in addressing labour shortages within our industry. However, it must be implemented responsibly.
We are fully aware of the issues of immigration abuse and labour trafficking that exist within the trucking industry. These practices are unacceptable, and we are committed to eliminating them. The MTA and its members are actively working with organizations such as TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking), the Joy Smith Foundation, and Crimestoppers to combat these harmful practices in Manitoba.
While we are working to address the consequences of past abuses, we must also focus on prevention. We urge the federal government to strengthen and tighten immigration pathways to minimize the opportunity for exploitation. A system that prioritizes the integrity of employers and the protection of workers is critical to the future health of our industry and the well-being of those who choose to build a life in Canada through it.”
CTA believes it’s time the Government of Canada works with the trucking industry to introduce a mandatory Known Employer Program that will match labour demand to legitimate, compliant trucking operations while protecting foreign workers from immigration consultants, truck driving schools and fleet owners that continue to exploit these workers within a broken immigration system.
Two recent CBC articles focusing on immigration labour abuses tied to the trucking sector highlight the tip of the iceberg these challenges present to the Canadian trucking industry and the Canadian immigration system.
CTA will be working with the Government of Canada and the Government of the U.S. to address these labour abuses in the domestic and international trucking supply chain.