Blog - CTOA

Brampton, ON – The City of Brampton Council has officially passed a motion recognizing the critical importance of the trucking and logistics industry to Brampton, the Greater Toronto Area, and Canada’s national supply chain. The motion follows a delegation by the Canada Truck Operators Association (CTOA), which highlighted growing concerns among drivers, owner-operators, and local trucking companies.

Brampton is not just a city, it is the engine of Canada’s supply chain. Every day, trucks leaving Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area move millions of dollars in goods across Ontario, to every province, and into the United States. From groceries and medical supplies to building materials and electronics, much of it starts here.

Because of this, what is happening in the trucking industry today affects not only Brampton but the entire country.

CTOA spokesperson Tej Dulat thanked Mayor Patrick Brown and Brampton City Council for their leadership.

“Truck drivers, owner-operators, and small businesses are the backbone of our economy. We are grateful that Brampton City Council has acknowledged their contribution and the challenges they are facing. Our message is simple, we need fair treatment, clear communication, and respect for the people who keep Canada moving,” Dulat said.

Key Issues Raised in the Presentation

Economic Importance: Every household in Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area is directly or indirectly connected to trucking, whether through a family member, a neighbour, or a small business that relies on steady supply lines.

We cannot afford policies that ignore this reality. Millions of dollars in goods move through the region every day. Confusion, misleading campaigns, and misinformation around trucking regulations impact drivers, small businesses, and thousands of Brampton-area families.

Mixing Separate Issues: CTOA highlighted that national conversations have improperly mixed three very different policy areas, creating unnecessary confusion and fear:

• Safety, which is a provincial responsibility.
• Immigration and work permit, which fall under IRCC
• Tax compliance for incorporated drivers, which is handled by the CRA

The CRA recently clarified that incorporation is legal, and not an offence. The issue is compliance, education, not criminality. During the Transport Committee meeting in Ottawa, the Deputy Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency stated:

“If you are a trucker incorporated, it is not an illegal model. You just need to pay your taxes, and you cannot make some of the deductions.”

Harmful Language: CTOA raised concerns about terms such as “illegal drivers” and “cheaters” being used in discussions. These terms have been widely amplified on social media and have caused stress, division, and declining morale among drivers. Many long-haul drivers and newcomers, who already work in difficult conditions, now feel unfairly targeted and afraid to speak publicly.

Impact on Brampton Families: With economic uncertainty, rising expenses, and new pressures caused by U.S. tariffs, the trucking industry is already strained. Negative narratives and unclear policies risk weakening the supply chain and pushing more drivers out of the profession. This directly affects affordability, jobs, and household stability across Brampton and the GTA.

Next Steps:

The CTOA is calling on Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation and federal counterparts to:

• Treat safety, immigration, and tax compliance as distinct policy areas.
• Condemn and avoid harmful terminology used by a few during committee meetings and on social media, such as “illegal drivers” or “cheaters,” and focus instead on fair and proper enforcement.
• Engage directly with Ontario-based industry organizations, including those representing diverse communities and front-line drivers, before introducing future legislative or regulatory changes.

“Long haul drivers work long hours, spend weeks away from family, and face every kind of weather and challenge to keep shelves full and our economy strong. They deserve fairness and dignity, not stigma,” Dulat added.

About the Canada Truck Operators Association (CTOA)

The CTOA’s mission is to ensure all voices in the trucking industry are heard, including drivers, owner-operators, and small to large carriers. We believe in inclusive decisionmaking on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues, and in ensuring that those speaking for the industry reflect its diverse and rapidly growing workforce.