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Transportation

During question period, the Bloc Québécois raised the rise in fatal trucking accidents, saying over 100 people died last year in crashes involving heavy trucks, about 20% above the previous five-year average, and attributing this to companies using the Driver Inc. model putting unsafe drivers on the road. The Bloc asked when the government would act, noting it had offered ten solutions, and accused the government of close ties to a trucking lobby group that donated to the Liberals. The Liberal minister replied that road safety is a shared responsibility, pointing to federal steps such as ending tax treatment for certain trucking companies, shutting down some operators, and sending inspectors to workplaces, while saying provinces and police, such as the Sûreté du Québec, must handle highway enforcement and licence checks.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Xavier Barsalou-Duval

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“More than 100 people died in truck accidents last year, which is 20% higher than the recent average. This is happening because shady companies are putting dangerous drivers on the road. We gave the government 10 solutions, and I want to know when they will act.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, for the first time in recent history, more than 100 people died on our roads last year in accidents involving heavy-duty trucks. There were 102 fatalities. That is nearly 20% higher than the average for the previous five years. What has changed recently that could explain this? The answer is, of course, Driver Inc. The federal government turns a blind eye when shady companies put dangerous drivers on the road, and then acts surprised when there are consequences. We have proposed 10 solutions to the Liberals. When are they going to take action instead of allowing more victims to be added to the list?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The federal government is doing its part for road safety. We stopped tax breaks for bad trucking companies, shut them down, and sent inspectors to check their workplaces. Now the provinces and police need to keep the roads safe.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, road safety is, of course, a shared responsibility. I am proud to say that the federal government has stepped up to be part of the solution. We have eliminated the possibility of special treatment from the Canada Revenue Agency. We have worked to ensure that these companies cannot operate and are deemed illegitimate. We are also deploying inspectors to ensure compliance with the Labour Code. Now it is up to the provinces and police to keep the roads safe.

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Xavier Barsalou-Duval

Bloc Québécois
“A trucking lobby group gave more than $100,000 to the Liberals, and the transport committee chair was their guest of honour. The Liberals are blocking committees from investigating these ties. I want to know why the government is protecting its friends instead of the public.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let us look back on the last couple of weeks. The chair of the transport committee was the guest of honour of the Canada Truck Operators Association, or CTOA, which is a Driver Inc. lobby group. The Liberals forced the committee to go in camera to prevent any discussion about Driver Inc. CTOA members contributed more than $100,000 to the Liberals, including more than $20,000 from a company in the chair’s riding. This week, the Liberals refused to allow the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to investigate CTOA’s ties to the Liberal Party. Why are they protecting their friends instead of the public?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“Our government is taking action on trucking, but provinces also have a role. We do not hire highway inspectors. Quebec police must keep doing their job, checking trucks, and making sure driver licenses are valid.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would reiterate that the government has taken action and has stepped up, as confirmed by trucking associations across the country, including in Quebec. This is a shared responsibility. We do not employ highway inspectors. The Sûreté du Québec must continue to do its job. We need inspections. We must ensure that drivers’ certifications are valid and up to date. These are examples of shared responsibility, but the federal government, the Government of Canada, has stepped up to the plate.

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