Industry Canada weighs $400,000 for O/O associations

OSHAWA, Ont. (March 19, 2001) — Attempting to give Canadian independent truckers better representation before governments, National Truckers Association president Bill Wellman has asked Ottawa for $400,000 to build a cross-country network of local owner-operator associations.

According to the proposal, submitted to Industry Canada last December, the groups would be co-ordinated by a national office and would focus on political action. Wellman says the funds would cover start-up costs for the groups, with additional operating revenue coming from membership dues.

The agency will hold a three-day fact-finding session starting March 23 in Toronto, flying in organizers of various local owner-operator groups from across the country.

Industry Canada has hired former Mackie Moving Systems executive Phil Megher to organize the meeting.

“I think Industry Canada recognizes the importance of owner-operators, but they want to invest in something that has a chance to help them,” says Megher.

Megher says there is no fixed timeline for Industry Canada to decide whether to accept Wellman’s proposal. However, the agency’s fiscal year ends March 31.

The NTA, based in Oshawa, Ont., arose nearly a year ago out of frustrations with stagnant freight rates and spiking fuel prices. Its membership numbers are a moving target; estimates have ranged from a few thousand to a few dozen.