Canadian truckers seek vetted-employer gate for overseas recruitment

The Canadian Trucking Alliance is pressing Ottawa to speed up a mandatory trusted employer programme that would limit international recruitment of truck drivers to carriers able to show a strong record on safety and labour compliance. The proposal comes as the federal government revises immigration policy, with the alliance arguing that the industry still depends on foreign labour even as it seeks tougher protections against fraud, labour misclassification and human trafficking. According to Truck News, CTA president and chief executive Stephen Laskowski said immigration remains vital to long-haul trucking because of retirements and the difficulty of attracting workers to jobs that often require nights away from home.

The alliance says the need for overseas recruitment reflects a wider labour-market problem rather than a uniquely trucking-specific shortage. It pointed to data suggesting that nearly half of young people are unwilling to take jobs involving regular overnight shifts or long periods away from home. In that context, the CTA argues that Canada needs access to global labour, but only under stricter rules that prevent vulnerable workers from being drawn into abusive arrangements. Jonathan Blackham, the organisation’s director of public affairs, said the industry did not need weaker protections, but better ones, and urged faster action on the framework being developed with Employment and Social Development Canada.

At the heart of the CTA’s concern is what it describes as abuse of existing immigration routes by disreputable carriers and consultants. The association says some recruitment schemes have involved fraudulent business structures and immigration intermediaries, leaving foreign workers exposed to exploitation and, in some cases, human trafficking. Its proposed trusted employer model would only allow thoroughly vetted carriers, with proven compliance histories, to recruit internationally. That approach, the alliance says, would preserve access to workers while creating a more defensible gatekeeper system for a sector that it believes is especially vulnerable to abuse.

The alliance also pointed to industry-led efforts already under way in Manitoba and Ontario to confront trafficking and forced labour. The Manitoba Trucking Association and the Ontario Trucking Association have both worked with the Joy Smith Foundation on awareness campaigns and sector-specific resources, including multilingual materials and tools designed to help drivers, employers and the public spot warning signs. In Manitoba, the foundation has launched an initiative focused on forced labour in trucking, while other programmes such as Truckers Against Trafficking continue to provide training and reporting guidance for industry workers. Together, these efforts suggest the sector is increasingly treating labour exploitation as a compliance issue as much as a criminal one.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

• https://www.trucknews.com/human-resources/cta-calls-for-trusted-employer-program-to-curb-exploitation-of-foreign-truck-drivers/1003223758/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
• https://www.trucknews.com/human-resources/cta-calls-for-trusted-employer-program-to-curb-exploitation-of-foreign-truck-drivers/1003223758/ – The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is urging the Canadian government to expedite the development of a mandatory trusted employer programme. This initiative aims to restrict the international recruitment of truck drivers to carriers with established safety and labour compliance records. The CTA’s call follows recent changes to federal immigration policy, emphasising the need to balance the trucking industry’s demand for foreign workers with enhanced protections against human trafficking, labour misclassification, and immigration fraud. CTA President and CEO Stephen Laskowski highlighted the industry’s reliance on immigration due to significant retirements and the challenges posed by the demanding nature of long-haul trucking, which contrasts with broader shifts in the national labour market. The CTA also pointed out that nearly half of young people are unwilling to pursue occupations requiring regular overnight shifts or extended periods away from home. The association expressed concerns that existing immigration programmes have been exploited by unscrupulous trucking companies using fraudulent business arrangements and immigration consultants to recruit vulnerable foreign workers, some of whom are subjected to human trafficking. To address these issues, the CTA proposes a mandatory trusted employer programme under which only thoroughly vetted carriers demonstrating compliance with safety and labour regulations would be permitted to recruit internationally. The alliance is collaborating with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to develop this framework but stresses the need for accelerated implementation. Jonathan Blackham, CTA’s director of public affairs, emphasised the necessity for more stringent safeguards to protect the basic human and labour rights of all drivers. Additionally, the CTA highlighted efforts by its provincial members, such as the Manitoba Trucking Association and Ontario Trucking Association, which have partnered with the Joy Smith Foundation to develop industry-specific resources and raise awareness of trafficking and exploitation within the trucking industry.
• https://trucking.mb.ca/joy-smith-foundation-launching-initiative-to-combat-forced-labour-in-manitoba/ – The Joy Smith Foundation has announced an initiative focused on combating forced labour in Manitoba’s trucking industry. Launched on Manitoba Human Trafficking Awareness Day, the initiative aims to raise awareness and empower workers, industry leaders, and the community to recognise the signs of labour trafficking and take action. The campaign includes multilingual educational materials, digital outreach, and industry-specific resources to inform professional drivers, trucking company leaders, and the public about the signs of labour trafficking. The initiative also collaborates with Winnipeg Crime Stoppers, which offers cash rewards for anonymous tips leading to arrests of traffickers. Janet Campbell, President and CEO of The Joy Smith Foundation, stated that the initiative is the first of its kind in Canada, focusing on exposing labour trafficking within the trucking industry. The Manitoba Trucking Association expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the importance of addressing labour trafficking and immigration abuses in the industry to ensure a better quality of life for those affected by these injustices.
• https://trucking.mb.ca/industry/truckers-against-trafficking/ – Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is an organisation that recognises the invaluable role of members of the trucking, bus, and energy industries in the fight against human trafficking. The initiative aims to educate and empower industry professionals to identify and report signs of human trafficking, thereby contributing to the dismantling of trafficking networks and the protection of vulnerable workers. TAT provides resources and training to help industry members recognise the signs of human trafficking and take appropriate action. The organisation underscores the importance of collaboration between industry professionals, law enforcement, and communities to combat human trafficking effectively.
• https://www.traffickingreport.ca/ – The Trafficking Report, launched by The Joy Smith Foundation, focuses on raising awareness about labour trafficking in the trucking industry. The campaign aims to educate Canadians on recognising the signs of labour trafficking and to empower communities to take action against this form of modern-day slavery. The initiative provides resources, including multilingual educational materials and industry-specific tools, to inform professional drivers, trucking company leaders, and the public about the signs of labour trafficking. The campaign also collaborates with Crime Stoppers to encourage the reporting of suspected cases of labour trafficking. The foundation emphasises that education is a powerful tool in preventing human trafficking and protecting vulnerable workers.
• https://joysmithfoundation.com/about-us/ – The Joy Smith Foundation is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to the prevention and intervention of human trafficking. Founded by Joy Smith, a former Member of Parliament, the foundation works to provide access to information so that every Canadian is educated and empowered to stay safe from manipulation, force, or abuse of power designed to lure and exploit them in the sex trade or forced labour. The foundation offers a variety of programs for individuals and professionals, including webinars, in-person seminars, and virtual training, to help Canadians recognise the signs of human trafficking and prevent this crime from occurring.
• https://ontruck.org/the-joy-smith-foundation-and-ota-partner-to-address-forced-labour-in-ontarios-trucking-industry/ – The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) and The Joy Smith Foundation have partnered to develop new tools aimed at combating forced labour and human trafficking in Ontario’s trucking industry. The initiative builds on programmes already underway in Manitoba and expands the foundation’s work into Ontario, Canada’s largest trucking market. The organisations aim to develop industry-specific tools and use data to help identify potential patterns of forced labour while increasing awareness among carriers, law enforcement, and the public. Mark Bylsma, OTA Chair, emphasised the need to end forced labour in the trucking industry, stating that it is real, destructive, and needs to end. Janet Campbell, President and CEO of The Joy Smith Foundation, highlighted the importance of collaboration with stakeholders to develop a coordinated approach and tools that strengthen awareness of forced labour risks within the trucking industry.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The article was published on October 21, 2026, and no substantially similar content was found online, indicating high freshness. (trucknews.com)

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Direct quotes from Stephen Laskowski and Jonathan Blackham are used. While these individuals are publicly known, the specific instances of these quotes in the article cannot be independently verified online, raising concerns about their authenticity. (trucknews.com)

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The article originates from Truck News, a publication focused on the trucking industry. While it provides industry-specific information, its niche focus may limit broader credibility. (trucknews.com)

Plausibility check

Score: 9

Notes: The article discusses the Canadian Trucking Alliance’s call for a trusted employer program to prevent exploitation of foreign truck drivers, aligning with known industry concerns about labor exploitation and the need for regulatory reforms. (trucknews.com)