Truck drivers among first round of Express Entry invitations for transport occupations
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that the first round of invitations for transport occupations through category-based selection in Express Entry will occur this week. This focus on candidates with experience in the transport sector — including commercial truck drivers, pilots and aircraft assembly workers — will help the sector attract the skilled talent it needs across the country, according to a news release.
On May 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced changes to Express Entry through category-based selection. These changes are aimed at addressing labor shortages and supporting economic goals by inviting candidates with specific work experience or French language ability to apply for permanent residence.
“As Canada grows its economy, we’re committed to improving transport and infrastructure to ensure the safe and efficient movement of goods and passengers across the country. Category-based selection helps us invite newcomers with experience in transport occupations to fill significant labour gaps and ensure the future success of the Canadian transport sector,” Miller said.
Critical skills shortage
“The transportation sector is crucial to our economy, and if we want to keep things moving, we need to invest in the people that move travellers and transport our goods,” said Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport.
“With this new initiative, we are helping address a critical skills shortage while also attracting new, talented people to communities across Canada. Truck drivers, pilots, aviation mechanical engineers and seafarers play a critical role in our economy and Canadians’ lives. Filling vacancies in these professions will boost economic growth and create stronger and more resilient supply chains,” he added.
These category-based selection rounds will continue throughout the year, alongside general and program-specific invitation rounds.
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Oh and bye the way I have 32 yrs in the trucking industry, and today I don’t even want to drive I gave my life to become a driver and told myself I would do this as long as I could get up into the truck. Not today dicussting what we done to the industry gave it away to people who have no idea what there doing. Sad good luck
That’s a good news. But unfortunately after spending a lot of money getting my AZ license in Ontario and working for couple of months I couldn’t get a company to sponsor me with LMIA to renew my work permit so I have to return back to England. I hope this law get passed in time so I could return back.
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We need 500,000 more low income or disabled housing units before we bring in foreign workers or foreign students
We need to do a number of things to look after truck drivers. (1) we need a program to insure and coach new drivers at affordable rates. (2) we need to give agriculture workers and truck drivers the same protection as other jobs. (3) We need set housing up for all express entry workers and require all express entry employers to show they have no more than 2 complaints in the past 12 months about truck drivers or lease ops pay and treatment. (4) All express entry workers need to be hourly paid based on the skill levels that the job requires. I have seen a lot of drivers from Europe including Ukraine go back in the past 8 months. All express entry workers need to be able to pass a English or French language exam.
The powers that be just don’t pay attention to reality. Pay us what we are worth and what we deserve. There is no shortage of licensed commercial drivers, just look at the statistics according to the MTO and DMV. Nobody is staying in this industry because it sucks! Pay, benefits, and work life balance is terrible. Focus on employee retention instead of immigration and watch how many licensed drivers come back.
Right now the immigration numbers are a direct contributary cause to the housing crisis, medical crisis, and inflation. We cannot sustain these immigration numbers without proper planning and infrastructure.
Freight is slowing down, as is the economy. This type of labour market interference by government creates lower wages, and more dangerous highways.
Dear Mr Rodriguez, I am myself a certified in B.C. licenced class 3 truck driver with airbrake who has always aspired to be a class 1 driver. I am not able to do heavy lifting and due to a injury I’m not able to drive without taking necessary brakes every few hours for 10-15min. I have searched and searched for ways to get into class 1 driving with no luck as no company hires and trains people anymore. Even though my commercial licence is spotless apart from now not being able to do much of weight bearing lifting things I can still drive. Yet for me there is no company that can provide a labourer/driver helper it seems. So for folks like me we got the skills and certification just no class 1 experience or no truck driver helper to fill these gaps. I’m not trying to be insulting nor rude I’m just stating my position and opinion and imaging that I’m not the only person in this situation in the world.
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I have the same problem I am disabled truck driver
No company is willing to help with disabled truck drivers. I often get in trouble at receiving docks when have to craw in the winter time on my hands and knees
Sometimes I am can not get out the cab by myself for 2 or 4 days at a time. Instead of the ont gov and the trucking industry look after injury or sick drivers
They just bring in more cheaper foreign workers.
So, I’ve been trucking for over 20 years and can tell you all that there is no driver shortage. There is however a shortage of professional drivers. Quantity over quality does nothing for improving safety my friends. Meat in the seat thinking has got to stop. Please Canadian government, stop importing trouble.
Thank you!!
Ok so you think bringing people in from another country that can’t read write or speak the language (ENGLISH) is the answer. I have been driving tractor trailers for 26yrs. I have never had an infraction. My CVOR is spotless but because I had a ICD unit put in me to strengthen my heart I loose my license. But we have such a shortage of drivers you say. Well if people are healthy should not matter if they have something helping there heart to keep it strong. If they can do the job and pass a physical why not keep them. There are people who are driving cars busses tractor trailers that should not be allowed to push a wheel barrow let alone drive a commercial vehicle. Why don’t we start by trying to keep the good drivers we have now. Also make the testing the way it was 30years ago and don’t just let anyone have a license to drive a truck. This industry is becoming a joke. That is all I will say about this.
I hope this would also take into consideration those that are already in canada
So let me get this straight! At this point in time I am a 33 yr driver in Canada, I am fast approved, and I have spotless abstract. I have been looking for a better job as my current company is struggling with freight to keep my wife and I going ( we are a team). And I am having zero luck, no one is hiring because there is no freight to haul. So this government thinks its a good idea to import driver’s???? The Liberals have got to go!!!! This country is in big big big trouble in so many ways, and in every level. Let’s fix what’s broken before we make it worse, for the love of god !
There are plenty of newly licensed AZ drivers without work experience in trucking industry are struggling to get jobs. Why can’t you guys look into that area and give them a jump start in trucking.
Lots of AZ drivers caught in the insurance company Catch-22.
Not enough experience to hire you, but you can’t gain experience to get hired unless someone will hire you.
Back to square 1.
I have worked with kenya-airways as truck driver and equipment operator for ten y and currently at Africa flight services.
Good news to us truck drivers
I really think this is a good start what I can’t understand is all the nay sayers. Cause I have 4 trucks and I’ve been trying to get drivers for the longest time to no avail it’s either not enough experience or another excuse. Or they can’t go far I’m up for experience drivers import maybe I can get 3 drivers out of the list .
How do I go about applying for work permit drivers for this program
Terrible idea. We have a housing crisis and bringing more people to Canada without a viable path forward is cruel. Not to mention the many lies that some recruiters will do just to get someone over here.
I had a trainee from the Netherlands that was lied to… was told he would make twice as he would be doing in Europe. Only to find out he was doing only half in Canada.
Where’s the justice?
You honestly think this I a good idea? We should be ashamed of ourselves for even thinking of this. Stupid idea this government needs to get out of power and open there eyes, we are in big big trouble in this country. My grandfather’s aunts and uncles fought for our freedoms and today we are giving it away like confedey. Joke…