Public inquiry ordered into fatal collisions involving heavy trucks in Quebec

A public inquiry into fatal collisions involving heavy trucks has been ordered by Quebec’s Chief Coroner.

“The Chief Coroner of Quebec, Reno Bernier, has ordered a public inquiry following the request of the Minister of Public Security, Ian Lafrenière, concerning deaths involving heavy trucks,” reads a press release from the Coroner’s office on Friday morning.

The inquiry will focus primarily on the deaths of Tanya and Elliot Lalonde. The mother and son died on August 27 on Highway 30 in Boucherville.

“The investigation will make it possible to analyze in depth the causes and circumstances surrounding these deaths, to highlight the contributing factors and to identify a broader reflection on the road safety issues that will be highlighted. It will also make recommendations to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances.”

”It’s important that we have that inquest,” said Gilles LeVasseur, professor of Management & Law at University of Ottawa. “There’s too many people that will be dying because of misconceptions of what are the elements we need to have to drive these actual trucks. There’s no control, there’s no review, and there’s no supervision of what’s happening right now.” 

According to data from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), in 2024, 100 of the 379 deaths that occurred on the roads were the result of accidents involving heavy vehicles. This represents an increase of 35.1 per cent compared to 2023.

“Not surprised after so many accidents and so many loss of lives on our roads in the past months, but I would say in the past years that there’s a wake up call that’s been brought up by the coroner chef du Québec,” said Marc Cadieux, CEO of Quebec Trucking Association (ACQ).

“The statistic of almost 400 people perishing on our roads in a year is quite shocking and if a fourth of them were from heavy trucks, I think we have a lot of improvement we have to make on our roads,” said Christopher Arkilanian, Montrealer.

It will be presided over by Coroner Dave Kimpton. He will be assisted by Émilie Fay Carlos, Public Inquiries Prosecutor.

“Every death on our roads is one too many, which is a reminder of the importance of acting collectively to improve road safety. Following the examination of several fatal collisions involving heavy trucks in recent months, we believe it is necessary to launch this public inquiry to shed light on the existing issues and better protect human life,” said Bernier, in a statement.

“I have yet to see such a let’s call it a dark series that’s lasted so long,” said André Durocher, director of Road Safety, CAA-Quebec. “It’s not just like one collision. It’s one after another.”

In addition to these two deaths, if he deems it necessary, the Coroner will take into account the circumstances surrounding other deaths that have occurred in recent months in order to take a complete look at the situation in order to establish his recommendations.

“Don’t stay in the truckers’ blind spot because even if the trucker got adequate training, there are many blind spots around a huge truck,” said Durocher. “So my thoughts are stay away.”

Chauffeur Inc.

The announcement of the public inquiry comes after several players in the trucking industry denounced the phenomenon of discount drivers.

The “Chauffeur Inc.” phenomenon is believed to have started in Ontario before spreading to Quebec.

These drivers, often newcomers who agree to work for much lower wages than those in the industry, are not employees but incorporated workers.

Their employers therefore do not deduct various payroll contributions, such as pension plan contributions, CNESST contributions, and other deductions, such as those for group insurance and pension plans, which are specific to many employers. For Ontario employers, this results in savings of 20 per cent to 30 per cent.

“There have been many deaths and injuries lately” because “people are not following the rules,” said Jean-Claude Daignault, president of the Fraternité des constables du contrôle routier du Québec (Quebec Highway Patrol Officers’ Association), at a press conference organized by the Bloc Québécois in Ottawa a few days ago.

“What leads to these types of accidents is obviously a great problem in the industry with those driver and those low skilled drivers that are hired and not trained properly,” said Cadieux.

Parliamentary committee examines the issue

In Ottawa, a House committee launched a study this week on labor standards in the Canadian trucking industry.

The Transportation Committee’s study will include at least six meetings and is expected to summon the Minister of Transportation and the Secretaries of State for Labour and Revenue.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Bloc Québécois presented 10 recommendations to the federal government, including conducting an official inquiry into the exploitation of drivers, creating a public registry of non-compliant companies, and prohibiting temporary foreign workers from working as incorporated drivers.

“Discount drivers are a public danger that we must urgently put an end to. We welcome Ottawa’s willingness to tighten the traceability of incorporated drivers’ income, as we have demanded, but this is only one of our 10 proposals and must be translated into a firm commitment,” said Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc Québécois spokesperson on transportation, in a statement Friday. “Furthermore, this measure alone will not be enough to put an end to the phenomenon, as deaths related to heavy trucks are skyrocketing. Ottawa must implement the 10 proposals put forward by the Bloc Québécois and the trucking industry, including preventing temporary immigrants from incorporating, better equipping road inspectors, and conducting automatic audits of companies. We must restore safety on our roads!”

“The issue needs to be addressed, and there has to be recommendations that are guiding the industry, but also the government in how they’re going to supervise and overview the whole system,” said LeVasseur. “Because if there’s no authority that actually are doing their work, these people are driving without any imputability or accountability.” 

Schedule has not yet been finalized

Details of the inquest, including hearing dates, will be communicated at a later date and will be available on the Public Inquiries Calendar section of the Coroner’s Office on their website.

Those who wish to “obtain the status of interested person” may submit a written request to the coroner stating their reasons: emilie.fay-carlos@coroner.gouv.qc.ca.

-With files from Stéphane Blais, The Canadian Press