Ontario is working to ensure that truckers have what they need to get supplies where they are needed most.
Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney joined Health Minister Christine Elliott in issuing a statement praising truckers on the province's roads and highways, at a time when getting vital supplies from point-A to point-B is more critical than ever.
"In these extraordinary times, we have extraordinary heroes. Our truck drivers are these heroes. They are working long hours, day and night delivering food and equipment and other essential supplies for Ontario families," said Mulroney and Elliott in their statement.
Specifics were not provided, but the two ministers alluded to issues regarding treatment truck drivers are facing on the road, and they promised those issues are being handled.
"We are providing more safe places for truck drivers to stop and rest across the province and are keeping all 23 ON-Route travel plazas open for take-out, grab and go and drive-through services, including washrooms with enhanced cleaning," said Elliott and Mulroney. "We are also providing portable washrooms at 32 truck inspection stations, so trucks have a place to stop and rest safely."
These initiatives are being added to those already adopted, which include clearance for truckers to drive 24-hours on Ontario roads without noise bylaw restrictions, and the extension of any trucker's driver licences which may have expired on or after March 1.
"We would like to thank commercial carriers and truck drivers for everything that they've done to keep goods moving during the COVID-19 outbreak," said Mulroney and Elliott.