MTO doesn’t have authority to verify driver’s immigration status during inspections
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) told TruckNews.com that it does not have the authority to verify a driver’s immigration status when conducting commercial vehicle inspections.
The ministry was responding to a recent post on social media platform X making the rounds that MTO officers were asking truck drivers about their immigration status when they were pulled in for an inspection. “If you are out of status they allegedly call CBSA officers to take you away,” the post read.
“MTO works with enforcement partners including the CBSA [Canada Border Services Agency] on joint initiatives,” the ministry said in an email. “Our transportation enforcement officers focus on the safe operations of commercial vehicles on our roads. Matters of immigration are dealt with at the federal level through CBSA.”
TruckNews.com reached out the account, @401_da_sarpanch, that posted the information. “This is based on several truckers contacting our team,” they responded.
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In my case as a small fleet owner, I just do NOT hire drivers without 5 years experience and on a Temporary either Student or Work Permit. They do not have to worry too much about my fleet. My drivers must have Permanent Resident Status and /or Canadian Citizenship. I give priority to drivers permanently here first. They gave me a chance 30+ years ago to settle in this great country, and now it is my turn to make sure we preserve the greatness of this Nation!
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Exactly. Thank you for sharing. I too am in the industry. I believe this is an industry standard for established transportation companies.
Canada has become a bad joke and is in need of resuscitation and then a deep cleaning.
That is correct the MT O will not do anything . But I know of 3 times a OPP person was involved. They were in Ontario as a foreign student. They had worked more than 50 hours in the previous 2 weeks in 2 of the 3 cards according to the E Logs. In the other case it was bars on other factors. All 3 of those foreign students have been told that they are not not going to be able to stay in Canada. I would be very cautious about driving truck if not legal under current immigration law.