CTA calls for easing of CEWS wage subsidy restrictions

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TORONTO, Ont. – The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is calling on the federal government to ease restrictions on the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), in a bid to support more of the trucking businesses affected by Covid-19.

The subsidy covers up to 75% of an employee’s wages. Originally covering a period from March 15 to June 6, it was recently extended to Aug. 29.

But a CTA survey shows that nearly half of its member companies don’t qualify for the subsidy, with many falling just short of a threshold set at a 30% drop in revenue.

(Photo: iStock)

 “While there will always be a natural level of fluctuation in revenues for most companies, healthy companies should be able to manage these ups and downs,” alliance president Stephen Laskowski says in a letter to the prime minister and several cabinet ministers.

“Nonetheless, these are truly exceptional times and there are companies that fall just below current thresholds for full participation in the CEWS but are still experiencing great decreases in revenue and profitability than what could be considered normal fluctuations.”

Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced earlier this month that the government is looking at potential adjustments to the program, including the threshold for declining revenue. Consultations with business groups are underway.

In making its case, the CTA cites challenges including a collapsed freight market, restricted cashflows, deferred payments or unpaid bills, and rising empty miles.

“There is virtually no scenario in which most trucking companies will not be forced to operate on a negative cashflow basis through this pandemic and for months to come. This is true even for companies that are able to access the CEWS at the full benefit,” Laskowski writes.  

The federal government is currently collecting business on CEWS, and fleets can participate in the process by clicking here.

CTA has also called for a three-month payroll tax deferral, and an increase in meal allowances for truck drivers who are facing rising food costs on the road. Both of those initiatives have been supported by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, and Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada.

In a separate request, CTA asked the government to block fleets that use the Driver Inc. payment scheme from accessing new bridge loans for large companies that exhaust available credit. That Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) program was designed to help avoid bankruptcies of otherwise viable firms.

The Driver Inc. model involves misclassifying employed truck drivers as independent contractors. In doing so, fleets avoid many traditional payroll deductions such as workers compensation premiums and vacation pay, and often leave drivers thinking they can deduct business expenses to which they are not entitled.

  • This article has been updated to include a link to the federal government’s consultation process on CEWS.
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John G. Smith is Newcom Media's vice-president - editorial, and the editorial director of its trucking publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, and Transport Routier. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.


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  • No way should these trucking companies get a wage subsidy so they can push owner ops with their own insurance and authorities out of business by underbidding them . I know of a least 3 trucking companies in Ontario with over 200 trucks each who got wage subsidies and bought out one or more small trucking company and or equipment that was behind on the payments because current rates are not high enough to pay Ontario high rates for companies with under 20 trucks or busses or taxis. The C .T A and the O. T A . Membership should get no wage subsidy.

  • Moi en fait je cherche un pret pour acheter un camion.est il possible de profiter du prêt de 40000 sans interet promis par le gouvernement sachant mon entreprise ete creer en 2013 et ne fait pas assez de revenu pour etre admis par une banque