Enforcement Blitzes Expose “Insanity” of Widespread Non-Compliance in Canadian Trucking

June 6, 2025 — Canada

A wave of coordinated enforcement blitzes led by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has revealed shocking levels of non-compliance across Canada’s trucking industry. The findings reinforce long-standing warnings from the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and its president, Stephen Laskowski, who describes the current state of the industry as “out of control.”

“For those of us who have played by the rules, this comes as no surprise,” said Laskowski. “The government now has its own evidence: this industry is in crisis. The time to act is now.”

Key findings include:

• Southern Ontario: Over 65% non-compliance in follow-up audits; 25% of companies vanished after being cited.

• Quebec: 40% of employers were non-compliant with labour classification regulations.

• Edmonton & Winnipeg: Non-compliance rates ranged from 50% to 64%.

• CRA: Millions in tax evasion identified, with trucking being the top offender of the PSB (personal services business) model.

• WSIB Ontario: More than $10 million in corrective assessments issued, with some fines exceeding $800,000.

Laskowski emphasized that monetary fines are insufficient. He called for revocation of operating privileges for repeat offenders: “They’re not just breaking laws — they’re profiting from it, putting others at risk, and playing a disappearing act to do it all over again. This insanity must stop now.”

He urged Minister Hajdu to make restoring compliance and oversight in the federally regulated trucking sector her top priority.