Question Period Note: Safety and training in the trucking sector

Stakeholders in the Ontario trucking sector are calling for additional safety and training requirements for truck drivers to decrease the rate of collisions on the road. The new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program announced in Budget 2021 will support key sectors of the economy, including the trucking sector, implement solutions to address current and emerging workforce needs

• Key sectors of the economy, including the trucking sector, continue to face significant workforce challenges, with many employers struggling to find workers with the right skills to meet demand.

• To help Canadians gain the skills they need for good jobs in key sectors, the Government announced $960 million over three years for the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program in Budget 2021.

• The SWSP will help businesses and workers prepare for workforce transitions in the rapidly changing economy, address labour shortages and help our economy grow.

• For sectors like trucking, the SWSP can help advance training that supports a productive, efficient and safe workforce

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored serious workforce challenges in critical economic sectors. While some sectors like tourism have been experiencing significant layoffs, others like trucking, health, and construction have grown and are struggling to find workers with the right skills to fill jobs.

Workforce demand in the trucking sector was initially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since recovered and returned to pre-pandemic levels in September 2020. In the third quarter of 2021, the vacancy rate for this sector (8%) remained above national levels (5%) indicating that trucking sector employers are in need of more skilled workers but are having a difficult time filling vacancies.

Motor carrier safety in Canada is a joint responsibility between the federal government, specifically Transport Canada, and the provinces and territories (PTs). Under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, the PTs enforce federal regulations for extra-provincial carriers on behalf of the federal government and have sole responsibility for intra-provincial operations.

Trucking HR Canada, a national non-profit organization representing the trucking and logistics workforce that has received funding through ESDC’s Sectoral Initiatives Program, has developed a framework for entry-level training that has been used by some provinces for the development of mandatory entry-level training (MELT) requirements. To date, the MELT has been implemented in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced $960 million over three years, beginning in 2021-22, to Employment and Social Development Canada for a new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP). The Government also committed to make it easier for women and vulnerable groups to access training by requiring the Program to include wrap-around supports (e.g. transportation, childcare, etc.). The SWSP builds on the successes of the Sectoral Initiatives Program, which will be folded within the new Program.

The SWSP will help employers and workers in key sectors of the economy by developing and implementing workforce solutions to address their current and emerging workforce needs. Through contribution agreements, the Program will fund large-scale sector-specific projects delivered by third party organizations that develop and implement a range of industry-driven activities, such as:

• Training and reskilling to help workers gain skills for the changing needs of industries. These types of projects could also help workers transition to in-demand jobs or growing sectors;
• Solutions to help employers, in particular small and medium-sized businesses, attract and retain a skilled and innovative workforce.
• Initiatives to reduce barriers and help equity-deserving groups, including women, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples, get the skills they need to find work and succeed in key sectors;
• Other creative solutions to improve the labour market and help employers, job seekers, students, and educators better understand skills and employment issues and make good decisions.

The SWSP will prioritize early investments in the health sector, sectors aligned with the clean economy and other key sectors that can quickly contribute to recovery. It will also help address workforce challenges in key sectors such as agri-food; construction; information and communication technologies; manufacturing; natural resources; tourism; and, transportation.

It is anticipated that eligible organizations will be able to apply for project funding through a call for proposals in late January 2022. The SWSP will also leverage targeted measures to identify and fund high-impact projects

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