'Unsafe roads': Truckers say 'illegal drivers' crisis is spiralling out of control
A growing number of truckers and industry insiders sounded the alarm over what they describe as a deepening safety crisis on Canadian roads, an issue now taken up by Bloc Quebecois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval.
At a conference led by Bloc Quebecois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval, the message was blunt: “Discount drivers, danger on our roads.” While key data presented behind closed doors has yet to be released, participants say the reality is already visible on highways across the country.
“We don’t realize how serious the situation is… but we also don’t realize how widespread it is,” Barsalou-Duval explained during the conference, pointing to cases involving “arms trafficking” and “drug trafficking” linked to some drivers.
Daniel Beaulieu, a 40-year-old experienced trucker, says they have been raising concerns for years, warning “there were more and more foreign truck drivers… more danger, more accidents.”
Despite those repeated warnings, “it didn’t stop… it only got worse,” he said.
Barsalou-Duval during a press conference given in Ottawa alongside member of the trucking industry on October 6, 2025, described the situation as a systemic exploitation.
“It’s literally a cancer in the trucking industry,” he said, alleging some drivers are “forced to incorporate” so they can be “underpaid and exploited,” creating “unfair competition” for legitimate operators.
During the same press conference, Steve Bourgeois, who leads the “Enough is Enough. Save the trucking industry” movement highlighted the deadly increase of accidents linked to illegal truck drivers.
“They’re going to break records… for heavy vehicle accidents,” Bourgeois warned, citing a reported “35% increase” in fatal crashes involving heavy trucks in Quebec.
Bourgeois has been warning about this situation for years and organized a slow-roll protest in many cities across Quebec in 2025 to raise awareness about the problem.
Yet beyond safety concerns, several pointed to political hesitation.
Barsalou-Duval explained how people are afraid to tackle this issue, suggesting “they’re afraid of being labelled… of racial profiling,” adding that pressure exists “to tell everyone to stop talking about it.”
For many in the room, frustration is growing. “The more you dig… the more you realize how shocking the situation is,” the Bloc Quebecois MP explained.
As calls for investigations intensify, one message was repeated throughout the evening: “Things have to change… and they have to move quickly.”
Alexandra Lavoie
Quebec based Journalist
Alexa graduated with a degree in biology from Laval University. Throughout her many travels, she has seen political instability as well as corruption. While she witnessed social disorder on a daily basis, she has always been a defender of society’s most vulnerable. She’s been around the world several times, and now joins Rebel News to shed light on today’s biggest stories.
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COMMENTS
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Robert Clements commented 2026-04-26 15:31:36 -0400I spent 40 years in the trucking industry from 1963 to 2004 . I never drove for living but over the years I worked in safety and driver management both in the USA and Canada . Freight brokers were just getting started when I retired but I could see a problem as they were not responsible for safety and would give loads to anybody as long as they had proof of a drivers licence. When I was manager of small refrigerated company in the USA I would never hire a driver that could not speak perfect English or was not a US citizen . The fact that governments in Canada are afraid to crack down on the problem because of fear of discrimination show how much DEI has become entrenched in Canada regardless of safety for Canadians is
disgusting.
Canada should follow Trump on this problem.
Thanks to Rebel for reporting this. , Where is our mainstream media reporting? -
Fran G commented 2026-04-24 19:39:10 -0400Great to see people in Quebec waking up to the corruption of carnage. I see this more and more as each of the many scandals come out. (THere will be many more) All these different segments of the east finally waking up is encouraging. However, people in bulk have to raise their voices against carnage. If this doesnt happen soon, in the fall Alberta is leaving this fast sinking ship of Chanada.
