A small town in Ontario is seeking provincial support to address illegal trucking operations within its jurisdiction.
Caledon mayor Annette Groves sent a letter to Caledon MPP and deputy premier Sylvia Jones to strengthen municipal enforcement powers by amending the Planning Act and Municipal Act, according to a news release.
The mayor wants the province to increase maximum penalty amounts for individuals to $50,000 and corporations to $100,000 plus $50,000 for each day continued. The town also seeks the power to enable physically barring entry to properties.
Caledon wants the province to grant municipalities the ability to include all charges, fines, orders, notices, prohibitions, injunctions, court-imposed fines on the title of a property.
The Region of Peel town’s proximity to major transportation hubs like airports, rail terminals, and 400-series highways has made it a focal point for logistics operations centers.
“Unfortunately, this growth has been paired with a rise in illegal trucking operations as well,” the letter states.
The town has proactively enforced more than 300 properties for illegal parking and storage of tractor trailers.
‘Cost of doing business’
“For over a decade we’ve been exercising every tool we have. Despite our efforts, illegal truck depots are expanding with defiance, where many operators consider legal fees and municipal fines as a cost of doing business and are finding ways to circumvent violation notices by converting property ownership to delay prosecution. Without provincial intervention, there is the risk that this issue will grow to an unmanageable state and continue to spread throughout the province,” the mayor wrote.
The town’s council is also considering the municipality’s ability to block and barricade illegal trucks within Caledon, according to a news release. Staff are conducting a review to further explore the town’s options and will report back to council.
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