Ontario’s unsafe trucking standards prompt other provinces to take action

NORTHERN ONTARIO – Following data showing that Ontario’s trucking industry continues to cut corners, bringing down safety standards on our roads, Northern NDP MPPs Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay – Superior North), John Vanthof (Timiskaming – Cochrane), Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk – James Bay) and Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) have released the following statement:

“The Ford government continues to let Ontario’s trucking industry cut corners at the expense of road safety,” said MPP Vaugeois. “Doug Ford must bring licensing back to the Ministry of Transportation, and as requested by the Ontario Trucking Association, there must be oversight of the trucking industry, otherwise we will continue to see the safety standards of Ontario’s trucking industry deteriorate.”

“Ontario’s highways have become so unsafe due to failures in trucking oversight that other provinces are being forced to change their own rules to protect their drivers and residents,” added MPP Vanthof. “The Minister of Transportation needs to take this crisis seriously and bring licensing back under MTO before more lives are put at risk.”

“Northerners have seen the trucking industry change in real time,” said MPP Bourgouin. “Governments have abandoned their responsibilities to properly oversee the sector, allowing unsafe operators to undercut responsible employers, exploit vulnerable workers, and leave families paying the price.”

“Northern communities rely on safe, reliable transportation networks,” said MPP Mamakwa. “When governments fail to properly regulate the trucking industry, it puts drivers, passengers, and communities at risk. We need this government to take the recommendations of the Ontario Trucking Association seriously and bring back licensing to MTO.”