Transport minister, trucking association encouraged by federal support for database

BRANDON — The federal government is ready to support the creation of a national trucking database but officials in Manitoba are calling for concrete action.

Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said Friday in Ottawa the government is prepared to support the initiative.

“I want to applaud the minister of transportation in Manitoba, who has called for a national collaboration and a database with respect to certification of trucking companies,” MacKinnon said in reference to provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor’s efforts.

The database, called for by Naylor and the Manitoba Trucking Association, would share information between jurisdictions on operators with poor safety records.

Last month, the driver of a semi-truck was charged with dangerous driving causing death after a 49-year-old woman was killed in a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 110 and Richmond Avenue East in Brandon. Police allege the semi driver ran a stop sign on Highway 110.

The accused, 35-year-old Brijpal Panwar, worked for a company that had its safety fitness certificate pulled by the province in late 2021. The company, Conquer Transport Inc., re-established less than a year later in Alberta, the Manitoba government has said.

Naylor said Monday MacKinnon’s comments were “really good news.”

“It’s exactly what we want, is to have the willingness for the minister to work on this with us and to move forward together,” Naylor said.

The topic had been on multiple agendas for intergovernmental meetings as recently as February, she said, adding that Ottawa needs to take the lead on creating the database or another system it deems fit.

“I’m asking the federal government to take some lead here, and so I’ve again written to the federal minister to underscore the need for a federal response,” Naylor said.

Asked about a timeline on when a registry or other system might be in place, the minister said she can’t speak for the federal government but wanted it in place two years ago.

The current challenge, she said, is that if the province takes away a company’s safety fitness certificate, the firm is able to re-establish elsewhere even while based in Manitoba. She said her department has been reaching out to other provinces when it suspects that is happening.

“There’s no federal oversight for the safe operation of these vehicles, and so that’s why we’re calling on the federal government,” she said.

“It definitely feels good to hear the federal minister signal support, but I want to see action, not just words in question period.”

Transport Canada last week said provinces and territories are responsible for enforcing trucking regulations and licensing, among other things, but that the department works closely with all jurisdictions.

The Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety has directed administrators “to analyze the challenges with the current model for safety fitness certificates,” a spokesperson for the department said last week.

The Brandon Sun asked for an interview with MacKinnon — who is also the government house leader — over the span of more than a week, but was told he wasn’t available.

A statement from MacKinnon’s office largely repeated what he said during question period, though it added that “close collaboration” between all levels of government is needed to effectively address the current challenge.

Manitoba Trucking Association executive director Aaron Dolyniuk said it’s positive to hear Ottawa supports the registry.

Dolyniuk said the trucking company owners he has spoken with are frustrated about other operators skirting the rules and support a national system to better regulate the industry.

“This has been going on for a long time, and they’ve been seeking change for many years, and it’s unfortunate that something like this has to happen for the public to take notice,” he said.

Dolyniuk said he wants Ottawa to take charge of setting up the updated system, instead of the provinces having to do most of the work.

He said he has also spoken with associations in other provinces that are echoing Manitoba’s call for action.

— Brandon Sun