Carney ally lobbying to stop federal crackdown on shoddy trucking practices

A political insider and close ally of Mark Carney is actively lobbying the federal government to stop a crackdown on “low-cost” truck drivers, a practice industry voices say costs taxpayers billions.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

A political insider and close ally of Mark Carney is actively lobbying the federal government to stop a crackdown on “low-cost” truck drivers, a practice industry voices say costs taxpayers billions and is fueling a rise in transport accidents.

According to reporting by Jornal de Montreal, Tejpreet Dulat, a long-time Liberal Party donor and organizer, is now the spokesperson for the Canada Truck Operators Association (CTOA). The group represents “chauffeurs inc.”—truck drivers who operate as incorporated contractors instead of employees.

The practice allows companies to avoid paying employment insurance, pension contributions and workers’ compensation premiums, often by relying on newly arrived or temporary workers unfamiliar with labour standards.

Dulat said the association is expanding its national reach and professionalizing its advocacy efforts as the federal government faces pressure from provinces, labour groups and the United States to act on safety concerns associated with the model.

Federal documents estimate the practice results in annual tax losses between $1.9 billion and $5.2 billion.

Police and regulators have also flagged a rise in road accidents linked to inexperienced drivers and inadequate training. U.S. authorities have urged Ottawa to address the trend, warning of concerns about unqualified drivers crossing the border.

Dulat’s political background is drawing scrutiny.

Elections Canada records show he has donated to the Liberal Party since 2015 and played a direct role in Carney’s leadership campaign and subsequent election in Nepean.

He was seated with invited guests at Carney’s private swearing-in ceremony on May 22. Several CTOA board members are also Liberal donors, contributing roughly $85,000 since 2015, largely from Brampton-area organizers.

The CTOA has already secured small wins in Ottawa, including persuading the federal government to avoid using the term “chauffeurs inc.” in official communications, calling it discriminatory.

Dulat said he and other representatives have met with senior staff in the office of the minister of labour and members of the transport committee, as well as MPs from Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.

Neither Dulat nor the association is registered in the federal lobbyist registry.

The issue has gained urgency amid a string of high-profile road safety cases.

Quebec’s automobile insurance board reported a 35 per cent increase in fatal collisions involving heavy trucks last year.

In March, a Brampton driver was sentenced to one year in jail for failing to stop at a rural intersection, and earlier this month, another driver was arrested after allegedly operating for 87 hours without the mandatory rest period.