TORONTO, Ont. — Ontario environment critic Laurie Scott has introduced a private member’s bill that would pave the way for the mandatory use of speed limiters on trucks operating in Ontario.

Bill 115 would enact the Ontario Trucking Association’s controversial speed limiter policy, limiting all trucks operating in the province to 105 km/h. The bill received approval in principle yesterday after passing a second reading in the legislature and receiving support from all three parties.

If the bill passes a third reading, it could become law. First it will have to be referred to the legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs for further review.

OTA president David Bradley called the news “a major step forward for the environment and for road safety.”

The bill passed by a vote of 27-6 with members of all three parties supporting the move.

“Backing from all three parties shows that this issue has broad non-partisan support. We are grateful for that,” Bradley said in a release. “Laurie Scott deserves credit for showing real leadership in bringing this bill forward. It’s not always easy to stand up and fight for the right thing, especially when there is some vocal opposition.”

The OTA’s speed limiter policy has been endorsed by all other provincial associations as well as the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which would like to see it rolled out across the country. Owner/operator groups on both sides of the border have vehemently opposed the policy.