Feds will support national trucking database: MacKinnon

The federal government is ready to support the creation of a national trucking database, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said in Ottawa Friday, but officials in Manitoba are calling for concrete action.

MacKinnon made the comment in response to a question from Conservative Brandon-Souris MP Grant Jackson during question period in the House of Commons.

“I want to applaud the minister of transportation in Manitoba, who has called for a national collaboration and a database with respect to certification of trucking companies,” MacKinnon said in reference to provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor’s efforts.

“The federal government stands ready to support this initiative at any moment,” the Liberal MP said.

The database, requested by Naylor and the Manitoba Trucking Association, would share information between jurisdictions on operators with poor safety records.

Last month, the driver of a semi-truck was charged with dangerous driving causing death after a 49-year-old woman was killed in a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 110 and Richmond Avenue East in Brandon. Police allege the semi driver ran a stop sign on Highway 110.

The accused, 35-year-old Brijpal Panwar, allegedly worked for a company that had its safety fitness certificate pulled by the province in late 2021. The company, Conquer Transport Inc., re-established less than a year later in Alberta, according to the Manitoba government.

In an interview Monday, Naylor described MacKinnon’s comments as “really good news” and said she’s “happy to hear that the current minister is engaged on this issue.”

“It’s exactly what we want, is to have the willingness for the minister to work on this with us and to move forward together,” Naylor told the Sun.

The topic had been on multiple agendas for intergovernmental meetings as recently as February, she said, adding that Ottawa needs to take the lead on creating the database or another system it deems fit.

“I’m asking the federal government to take some lead here, and so I’ve again written to the federal minister to underscore the need for a federal response,” Naylor said.

Asked about a timeline on when a registry or other system might be in place, Naylor said she can’t speak for the federal government but wanted it in place two years ago.

The current challenge, she said, is that if the province takes away a company’s safety fitness certificate, the company is able to re-establish elsewhere even while based in Manitoba. She said her department has been reaching out to other provinces when it suspects that is happening.

“There’s no federal oversight for the safe operation of these vehicles, and so that’s why we’re calling on the federal government,” she said.

“It definitely feels good to hear the federal minister signal support, but I want to see action, not just words in question period.”

Transport Canada last week said provinces and territories are responsible for enforcing trucking regulations and licensing, among other things, but that the department works closely with all jurisdictions.

The Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety has directed administrators “to analyze the challenges with the current model for safety fitness certificates,” a spokesperson for the department said last week.

“This includes assessing potential options to address the issue of carriers with problematic safety records that continue to operate across jurisdictions despite being prohibited from doing so by another province or territory — sometimes referred to as ‘ghost’ or ‘chameleon’ carriers,” the spokesperson said.

The administrators — called the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators — are “working to update the National Safety Code to make it harder for carriers with poor safety records to re-establish themselves.”

The Sun asked for an interview with MacKinnon — who is also the government house leader — over the span of more than a week, but was told he wasn’t available.

A statement from MacKinnon’s office largely repeated what he said during question period, though it added that “close collaboration” between all levels of government is needed to effectively address the current challenge.

“The federal government continues to do its part, while meaningful progress also depends on provinces committed to fulfilling their responsibilities and ensuring the enforcement of existing rules within their jurisdiction,” the statement said.

Manitoba Trucking Association executive director Aaron Dolyniuk said MacKinnon’s comments are “good news” and it’s positive to hear that Ottawa supports the registry.

Dolyniuk said the trucking company owners he has spoken with are “upset and frustrated” about other operators skirting the rules and “very much support a national system to better regulate” the industry.

“This has been going on for a long time, and they’ve been seeking change for many years, and it’s unfortunate that something like this has to happen for the public to take notice,” he said.

The issue has now definitely gotten national attention, he said, with governments across the country talking about it.

“What we need now is some action and some commitments to make it happen, is what we’re looking for,” he said.

Dolyniuk said he wants Ottawa to take charge of setting up the updated system, instead of the provinces having to do most of the work.

He said he has also spoken with associations in other provinces that are echoing Manitoba’s call for action.

Jackson said he asked MacKinnon about the licensing “loophole” and why Ottawa hasn’t closed it.

He said he’s also calling on the Liberal government to implement the registry and for Ottawa to take charge of setting the system up.

“I don’t think it should be incumbent on Minister Naylor to try to convene her provincial counterparts from across the country,” Jackson said.

Jackson said MacKinnon’s response “lacked a concrete commitment on a path forward to solve this problem.”

He said he would also like to see the federal minister commit to having this topic on the agenda during the next transport ministers meeting.

“This was a good first step, but the government needs to be pushed on where they’re going to go with this file,” Jackson said.

» alambert@brandonsun.com