Transport Committee on Jan. 28th, 2026

[Vince Tarantini]

What type of enforcement?

[Chi Nguyen, Liberal, Spadina—Harbourfront, ON]

Checks on your work, etc. What's the experience for you?

[Vince Tarantini]

I agree that we don't get audited enough. The last time I was audited was many years ago. It's required at all levels, whether it's the MTO coming out....

Recently, we had a death at work. Unfortunately, somebody passed away suddenly due to their personal health. We had a visit from ESDC, the health and safety committee side, and the conversation quickly turned to Driver Inc., which I was happy to entertain. It was discussed thoroughly that there are not enough boots on the ground.

[Chi Nguyen, Liberal, Spadina—Harbourfront, ON]

You also mentioned the idea of technology, such as dashboards, cameras and other tools. Are there other things we should consider as ways to create more safety on the roads?

[Vince Tarantini]

Mike mentioned logbooks. There's still an issue with certified devices. The technology is such that there are a lot of software developers who have developed the software, but they're self-certifying the technology, which means altering logs. That has shifted from paper altering to digital altering. Those of us who are with legacy technology companies have taken a very robust approach to the integrity of the data and non-manipulation, either from the driver's seat or from the office.

With a lot of drivers we hire, one question they ask us is, “Do we need to unplug our devices from the cab of the truck in order to remove satellite visibility and tracking so that we can continue the day beyond our legally required hours?” We tell them no and ask them to tell us more about their experience, and they'll share varying stories with us, so it's very common.

[Chi Nguyen, Liberal, Spadina—Harbourfront, ON]

I want to ask the other witnesses about the idea that there are signals and signs you can see that make you suspect these are potentially Driver Inc. drivers or trucks that aren't being operated safely.

Do you have a sense of why there isn't more enforcement or the ability to crack down on that?

[Mike Burstall]

I think the volume is too high now. The controllers in Quebec are tired of checking them, because it's very complicated. They don't understand. They can't find their paperwork. They're tired of being there.

What's happening in Quebec is that they're checking the good companies more. They know that they're in order and that it will take half an hour for them to do the job. Right now it's guaranteed: You'll see that it's a good Quebec company pulled over to the side. Driver Inc. isn't pulled over anymore. They've lost interest in checking them. It's too long.

[Chi Nguyen, Liberal, Spadina—Harbourfront, ON]

That's really shocking to hear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Unfortunately, that's the end of your time, Ms. Nguyen. That was a great line of questioning with great answers.

We will now go to Mr. Barsalou-Duval.

You have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

At the beginning of October, the Bloc Québécois submitted 10 requests to the federal government that we believe should be implemented to bring about changes and put an end to the Driver Inc. phenomenon, among other things, and to make road transport in Canada safe. These are requests supported by the industry, including the Association du cammionnage du Québec, among others, and many other Quebec companies.

Among these 10 requests, we propose the creation of a national offence registry and a national insurance registry. I see that the creation of a national insurance registry is something you are also proposing. The reason we’re proposing this is that we’re often told that companies or people who hire these Driver Inc. drivers in Quebec have no way of knowing if any offences have been committed in Ontario. There’s no way to know whether or not the company is insured. Often, these companies are not insured or their paperwork is no longer valid. We should therefore have these types of records.

Obviously, traffic violations and enforcement on the road are the jurisdiction of Quebec or the provinces. It’s the same thing for insurance. However, Quebec cannot require that the other provinces have this data.

If there were federal leadership that allowed for the creation of a data exchange, would that be something desirable, in your opinion?

[Réjean Breton]

Certainly. That’s why we’re here today. The federal government must oversee these events across the country, implement strict measures and provide tools to law enforcement officers on the ground to enforce them.

As my colleague Mr. Burstall mentioned, we can see that the role of peace officers, whether in Quebec, Ontario, western Canada or the maritimes, has not been adapted to address the new Driver Inc. crime model because Parliament has not provided them with the tools.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you.

In effect, I have a motion to submit. I know that my speaking time is not quite over. According to the scheduled agenda, we were supposed to have representatives from Canada Post here today. Unfortunately, they’re not here. Therefore, my motion proposes the following:

That the committee order Canada Post to appear before it within 15 days following the adoption of this motion, in order to testify with full transparency and good faith as part of the study of the changing landscape of truck drivers in Canada given its possible links with companies practising the “Driver Inc.” model and the concerns raised by the industry and affected carriers.

Mr. Chair, may I explain this motion? In effect, it’s already part of the invitations that have been submitted by the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Yes, you can explain it.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Ultimately, I hope to have the support of all my colleagues so we can hear the comments from Canada Post. Several witnesses have raised their concerns about Canada Post using Driver Inc. drivers.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I'll turn the floor over to Mr. Albas.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

I have a quick question for my colleague Mr. Barsalou-Duval.

Who from Canada Post are you calling for? To me, it would make sense to ask the CEO to come. I'm wondering if you could clarify that for me, sir.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

In my opinion, it would seem natural for the CEO to come testify. I didn’t specify it in my motion, but it can be the subject of an amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I will suspend the meeting to give the committee members a chance to read this motion properly in both official languages.

The meeting is suspended to the call of the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Let's get back to order, colleagues. There have been discussions off-line. The clerk was quite helpful with finding a solution for us to follow.

Mr. Clerk, I'll turn the floor over to you very briefly so that you can explain to the members a possible path forward.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Philip den Ouden]

Thank you, Chair.

It depends on the committee's intent with this motion. If the intent is to invite, then the motion should say clearly that the intent is to invite. If the intent is to summon, the motion should say that the intent is to summon. If it is a summons, then the motion should also include the name of the individual being summoned and a timeline by which they should appear before the committee.

It is also possible for the committee to adopt a motion or debate a motion that invites a witness and then triggers a summons if the invited witness refuses the invitation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk. That is quite helpful.

Mr. Greaves, I saw your hand up. Which option would you like to pursue, sir?

[Will Greaves, Liberal, Victoria, BC]

In light of the desire to have somebody from Canada Post come and speak directly to support, perhaps, their assertion that they do not use the Driver Inc. model, we would move an amendment to the motion to the effect of what the clerk has just laid out.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

To be clear, it would be that we are inviting them for a second time and letting them know that, should they refuse to appear for a second time, a summons will be issued.

[Will Greaves, Liberal, Victoria, BC]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Okay.

Are we all on the same page here?

Do we have the support of the Bloc Québécois?