New Initiative to Raise Awareness and Combat Labor Trafficking
The Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) has partnered with the Joy Smith Foundation to launch a new initiative aimed at addressing labor trafficking in the province’s trucking industry. Announced on March 13, Manitoba Human Trafficking Awareness Day, the initiative will focus on educating industry stakeholders, raising awareness, and providing resources to identify and report cases of labor trafficking.
Comprehensive Campaign and Industry Collaboration
The campaign will feature multilingual educational materials, digital outreach, and industry-specific tools to inform professional drivers, trucking company leaders, and the broader community. Additionally, the initiative will collaborate with Winnipeg Crime Stoppers, which will offer cash rewards for anonymous tips leading to the arrest of traffickers.
Industry and Community Must Take Action
“Labor trafficking has been hidden in plain sight for too long. By focusing on the trucking industry, we’re taking a crucial first step in exposing this crime. But real change requires everyone — industry, law enforcement, and communities — protecting everyone’s dignity and freedom from injustice,” said Janet Campbell, President and CEO of the Joy Smith Foundation.
The MTA emphasized that labor trafficking and immigration abuses are serious concerns within the trucking industry. Many new drivers are forced into unsafe working conditions without proper training or necessary skills. “Those who condone these practices compromise human rights, labor standards, and safety, undermining the trucking industry at the expense of individuals who deserve much better,” the association stated.
Foreign Workers Among the Most Vulnerable
Labor trafficking often targets temporary foreign workers, international students, and newcomers to Canada seeking employment, said Joy Smith, founder, advocate, and former Member of Parliament. “We know that labor trafficking targets the most vulnerable among those seeking a better life in Canada. It is incumbent on us to ensure our province is leading the fight to prevent modern-day slavery here.”
Heavy Reliance on Foreign Labor Raises Concerns
Concerns have been raised over the trucking sector’s reliance on foreign labor in Manitoba. Data from a news release reveals that nearly 40% of trucking companies that utilized the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) program between 2019 and 2023 have since shut down, leaving hundreds of recruited foreign workers in limbo. Additionally, small trucking companies, operating fewer than 15 trucks, hired an average of 192% of their fleet size through foreign labor, highlighting a significant dependency on LMIA permits.
