Ayr barred from using Temporary Foreign Workers

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WOODSTOCK, NB – Ayr Motor Express, which had actively promoted the value of Temporary Foreign Workers to address regional driver shortages, has been blocked from the program designed for that very thing.

The federal government revoked the fleet’s Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in July, citing “false, misleading or inaccurate information in the context of the request for that assessment,” according to Employment and Social Development Canada.

Regulators say the fleet had not covered the drivers’ transportation costs or provided written agreements about wage deductions, both of which are required under the program.

Ayr Motor Express has responded by asking for a judicial review.

The LMIAs are needed to prove that labor needs cannot be addressed locally. But few drivers are hired under the program designed to address short-term needs. As of the first quarter of this year, 237 truck driving jobs were open to Temporary Foreign Workers across Canada. The figure does not reflect those who were employed by individuals.

“At this time, Ayr Motor Express is unable to obtain a positive LMIA for the purpose of hiring truck drivers. Any change to this status will be updated on this page as well as our social media sites,” reads a statement on a company website that outlines requirements for Temporary Foreign Workers.

Company president Joe Keenan said he was unable to comment further, noting it was a “matter with the legal folks and the courts.”

Ayr Motor Express was founded in 1990. The company reports on its website that it has 275 drivers and 55 owner-operators.

 

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John G. Smith is Newcom Media's vice-president - editorial, and the editorial director of its trucking publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, and Transport Routier. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.


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