Opposed to an Ontario proposal that would regulate fuel surcharges on freight rates, the Canadian Industrial Transportation Association is meeting with Ontario Economic Development Minister Al Palladini to discuss the formation of an advisory group that would look for alternatives in dealing with the fuel crisis.

CITA, an Ottawa-based organization representing about 200 shippers, said 100% of CITA members have already been paying appropriate fuel surcharges and an advisory group of stakeholders-made up by representatives of the government, trucking and shipping communities-will determine why those surcharges don’t appear to be reaching independent owner-operators.

“When a large group of independent truckers are not getting (the surcharges), then it makes us wonder why we’re even bothering,” said CITA managing director Lisa MacGillivray. “We pay the surcharge, the guy who is buying the fuel is (supposed to) get all of it, and we don’t think that is what’s happening.”

MacGillivray also said that regulating surcharges will only hurt the transport industry and the extra costs will likely trickle down to the consumer.

“Re-regulation is a 15-year-step back,” she said. “It’s going against the trends of every other level of the economy. To turn around and go the other way now goes against the flow of what the Conservative Government of Ontario says its for.”