MANY angry container truck drivers and company owners held an open meeting on Tuesday at Surrey’s Grand Taj Banquet Hall to demand a solution to the crisis they are facing following denial of licences to them by Port Metro Vancouver.
They wanted to know why they have been given a raw deal while 68 companies received 1,450 tags to transport containers. Those left out are facing financial disaster, they claimed.
On Wednesday, the truckers met in Delta and then drove their vehicles down Highway 91 to Vancouver via Richmond in protest.
BUT Peter Xotta, Vice President, Planning and Operations, of Port Metro Vancouver in a statement issued on Monday said the changes were needed for stability and that there was a program available to ease the transition.
“Port Metro Vancouver has reformed the Truck Licensing System, in consultation with the provincial and federal government, drivers, companies, industry and stakeholders. This reform will mean more stable service to the port and a better living for those who participate.
“Unfortunately, this means not everyone who is currently licensed to access the port will be licensed going forward. We recognize this transition may be difficult. Port Metro Vancouver is offering a generous transition program to eligible owner operators, provided there is no disruption that impacts container movements to the port. The program includes a funding package and administrative assistance with scrapping or auctioning trucks no longer wanted. In addition, support for impacted individuals will be available through the Province’s WorkBC program, and the federal Service Canada program.
“The goal of the reform is to stabilize the container trucking sector and ensure drivers earn a good living. It is unfortunate, and unavoidable, that some will no longer be licensed to access the port, but they are still able to provide driving services that do not require port access.”
NDP MP Jasbir Sandhu (Surrey-North) raised the issue in the House of Commons, asking the federal government to stop passing the buck.
Sandhu noted that although almost 600 port workers were at risk of losing their jobs following a new licensing system instituted at Port Metro Vancouver, the provincial and federal governments still couldn’t care less.
He said: “First these families make it through a bitter strike, now they’re still waiting for the agreement they negotiated to be honoured and they find out they could lose their jobs – enough is enough.”
Sandhu added: “Liberal and Conservative governments are playing political football with good-paying, middle-class jobs. The government should work to end future disruptions and help these families.”
NDP MP Jinny Sims (Newton-North Delta) said: “I’m worried about more job losses for the people of Surrey and surrounding areas. All over again, we’re seeing behaviour startlingly close to what we saw a year ago, with the Liberal Premier and federal Conservatives slinging mud back and forth.”
The MPs noted that earlier this week Premier Christy Clark went on record blaming the federal Conservatives for the latest of the beleaguered Port’s problems.