A labour shortage in Ontario’s trucking industry has opened up new pathways to citizenship for truck drivers wanting to immigrate to Canada.
Economic Development and Job Creation Minister Todd Smith announced the change on Tuesday in North Bay, where he also listened to concerns from trucking industry employers in the area. CTV News reported that he announced a new stream in the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program for truck drivers: “We're opening up our Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program to allow for these trucking companies to find drivers that want to come from another country. We will help get them on the pathway to a permanent residency, and more importantly, fill a labour shortage need in our own community here in the north.”
In addition to the current shortage of an estimated 20,000 workers, the industry faces imminent risk of even more vacancies, as the average age of truckers in northern Ontario is over 55 years. As they retire, the provincial nominee program will help fill the vacancies they leave behind.