Temporary Foreign Worker Program Compliance Risks For Canadian Trucking Companies

Key Takeaways

• A recent investigation revealed a pattern of unsafe carriers being repeatedly approved to participate in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) notwithstanding their records of safety and labour violations.
• The decentralized nature of trucking regulation, split between federal and provincial authorities, can create oversight and enforcement gaps that some carriers exploit to circumvent compliance and gain access to the TFWP, underscoring the need for stronger oversight and enforcement mechanisms.
• Non-compliant employers may face significant consequences, including administrative monetary penalties of up to $100,000 per violation, to a maximum of $1,000,000 per year, a permanent ban from the TFWP, and the suspension or revocation of existing Labour Market Impact Assessments.