Truckers Stage Convoy Protest Against Legault Government in Quebec City

A convoy of truckers travelled to Quebec City on Wednesday to protest the Legault government.

They say the government liberalized the bulk trucking sector, opening the door to “collusion” and “corruption.”

The Quebec government has regulated bulk trucking since 2000. However, the Association nationale des camionneurs artisans inc, (ANCAI) claims it is “circumventing its own regulations, thereby opening the door to economically unregulated bulk transport.”

“When the government doesn’t enforce its own regulations, it allows contractors to hire anyone they want,” Gaétan Légaré, general manager of the ANCAI, told The Canadian Press.

He believes it is essential to maintain this framework so local truckers get contracts.

“Imagine building a hospital in Baie-Comeau and then not having local truckers do the work; it’s outside truckers or a big contractor who comes in to do all the work. Well, we’re losing out on all the local economic spinoffs for our regions,” says Légaré.

There is also a risk of embezzlement, he says.

“The Charbonneau commission said it all: bulk trucking is a breeding ground for corruption and collusion to launder money. Our truckers have had enough!”

Several dozen protesters were in the vicinity of the National Assembly. A long line of trucks was parked along René-Lévesque Boulevard.

A convoy of truckers from all over Quebec also criss-crossed the Capitale-Nationale on Wednesday.

They stress their goal was not to “take Quebec City hostage.”

Gaétan Légaré said he had petitioned the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to no avail. “That’s why we’re asking [Quebec Premier François] Legault to intervene,” he says.

Bulk trucking is used on construction sites to transport materials like sand, gravel and earth. These truckers can also be called in during natural disasters.

By: CTV News