Following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first post-election press conference, during which he announced plans to cap the number of international students and temporary foreign workers, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is calling for a more comprehensive reform of immigration policies.
The CTA insists that future federal decisions should not rely solely on numerical limits. According to the organization, more attention must be paid to how newcomers are integrated into the labor market, the industries in which they are employed, and, most importantly, the practices of the employers who hire them.
The Alliance warns of troubling trends observed in parts of the trucking sector, where labor laws and minimum standards are not always upheld—as evidenced by ongoing abuses under the so-called Driver Inc. scheme.
The CTA’s president reiterates that immigration remains a vital solution to Canada’s truck driver shortage. However, this solution must not come at the expense of workers’ rights. The organization reports that cases of abuse—and even forced labor—continue to surface in the industry, and that urgent action is needed to put a stop to them.
A Program for Recognized Employers?
To address these concerns, the CTA is urging the federal government to work with the trucking industry to establish a mandatory recognized employer program.
Such a program would match labor needs with trucking companies that follow employment laws and ethical standards. It would also help protect foreign workers from exploitation by certain immigration consultants, driving schools, and fleet owners who take advantage of loopholes in a flawed immigration system.
The Alliance also references recent investigative reports that have exposed cases of exploitation involving foreign workers in the transport industry. In their view, these reports reflect just the tip of the iceberg in a much broader issue—both in Canada and globally.
The CTA plans to intensify its advocacy with both the Canadian and U.S. governments to crack down on abusive practices across the trucking supply chain. The ultimate goal: to clean up the system, protect workers, and restore public trust in the industry.
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