MP Tracy Gray says the feds must step up for long distance truckers

Photo: Contributed

MP Tracy Gray

Action needs to be taken by the federal government to assist long distance truck drivers with difficulties and challenges they are experiencing on the road.

That's the message from Kelowna-Lake Country MP Tracy Gray and Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty.

Gray, the shadow minister for interprovincial trade, and Doherty, the shadow minister for transport made the assertion in a letter to Minister of Transport Marc Garneau.

The letter states that while truck drivers continue to work to ensure the national supply chain remains strong, conditions they are enduring on the road during the COVID-19 crisis are unacceptable.

It states, in part:

"Every measure must be taken to ensure that our national supply chain remains safe, secure and provides for seamless movement of goods. The services they continue to provide are vital. They are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic and deserve the full support of the federal government.

"While drive-thrus remain open, they are not beneficial to long-haul truck drivers who can’t access them.  Adding insult to injury, the lack of washroom facility access has become a significant, unnecessary and unfair challenge to these front-line workers.

"Minister, I would offer that these concerns are not merely a “nice to have” but have a very real impact on the health and safety of our truck drivers. Ultimately minister, it is your mandate to ensure Canada’s transportation networks are safe and secure."

They called on Garneau to act upon the concerns brought to them by the trucking industry, saying the time to act was "yesterday."

"As Minister of Transport, you must prioritize this issue, work with your provincial counterparts and immediately take all measures required to ensure that our truck drivers are safe and healthy."