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Haldimand–Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis is calling for stronger federal oversight to protect truck drivers and the public, raising alarms about ongoing safety and labour issues in Canada’s trucking industry.
During a recent House of Commons Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Committee meeting, Lewis questioned industry witnesses about “Driver Inc.” — a growing practice where some trucking companies classify drivers as incorporated contractors instead of employees.
Lewis said this loophole is undermining fair competition, exploiting workers, and weakening road safety enforcement.
“In regions like Haldimand–Norfolk, trucking is the backbone of our local economy,” said Lewis. “It supports our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses that depend on reliable transportation. But the Driver Inc. model is hurting workers, distorting the industry, and putting safety at risk.”
She highlighted driver fatigue and weak enforcement as major safety threats, especially on heavily travelled routes like Highways 3, 6, and 24.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance told the committee that over 90 percent of Ontario trucking companies have never been audited — a statistic Lewis said shows a lack of accountability.
Lewis criticized the federal government for “tolerating weak enforcement” instead of closing loopholes that enable tax evasion and unfair labour practices.
Click below to hear an audio clip from MP Leslyn Lewis’s exchange at a House of Commons committee this week regarding safety and enforcement in the trucking industry.
Written by Jeremy Hall