Declaration of Emergency Committee on Nov. 24th, 2022

[Stephen Laskowski]

We do.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

You said that the “CTA and [your] member companies have worked closely with the Government of Canada throughout the COVID pandemic to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the supply chain and this cooperative relationship has helped make the industry safer.”

Is that correct?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Correct.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

You said that you “strongly [believe that] the health benefits of vaccines are unquestionable. But that [did] not change the fact that any substantial reduction of commercial drivers, when there's already an acute shortage, would further disrupt a very fragile supply chain and the economy.”

Is that correct?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Correct.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

“Simply put, the supply chain desperately needs more drivers”, not less drivers, “to deliver goods and products that [we as] consumers [on both sides of the border] depend on”.

is that correct?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Correct.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Therefore, the CTA was “again calling on the Government of Canada to maintain the position it agreed upon in the summer of 2021 of exempting the trucking industry as an essential service due to the potential consequences to the economy.”

You maintained that position didn't you, sir?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Yes, I did—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you.

“At a minimum, Ottawa must exempt commercial truck drivers, mechanics and those who work outdoors from the domestic mandate.”

Do you agree with that?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Yes.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you.

Those are my questions.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Thank you, Mr. Brock.

We now go to Mr. Virani for five minutes.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I believe it's Mr. Naqvi who will go first.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

I had your name on my list, Mr. Virani, but that's no problem.

Over to you, Mr. Naqvi.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Thank you.

Mr. Laskowski, I'll start with you, and I'll follow up on the questions that Mr. Brock was posing to you.

Of course, the mandate of the Canadian Trucking Alliance is to ensure we have a vibrant trucking industry in Canada. Am I correct?

[Stephen Laskowski]

It's to have a vibrant and safe trucking industry.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Part of the work the alliance does it to ensure the trucking sector complies with the laws, the rules and regulations, so that we can continue to have a safe supply chain and safe routes between the two countries. Am I correct?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Absolutely.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

My understanding is that you work very closely with all relevant government departments federally and provincially, and perhaps even at the municipal level, to ensure rules are being discussed and are fully complied with by your members of the Trucking Alliance. Is that correct?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Absolutely, including the COVID vaccinations.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

That's including the COVID vaccinations.

How would you describe the level of engagement you had with different levels of government during the pandemic?

[Stephen Laskowski]

I would say that we had an excellent and co-operative relationship, with lots of dialogue to work through a lot of complex issues.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Would you also agree that your members—trucking companies and truckers themselves—are law-abiding and comply with the rules that are set for them so that they can do their good work?

[Stephen Laskowski]

Absolutely, and in the vaccination rates, our industry was no different from the general population in Canada, including our nation's truck drivers.