Punjabi-speaking truck drivers from Ontario who transferred to Manitoba are claiming that they are being treated unfairly by the latter province’s public insurer.
The 23 drivers alleged in an application at Court of Queen’s Bench that Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is discriminating against them. The truckers said that despite passing the necessary tests in Ontario and receiving their Manitoba Class F1 trucking licenses after moving, the MPI ordered them to take the test again by November 06 or risk losing their licenses.
“We did everything by the book, so [MPI has] no basis to tell us that we have to redo the test,” Parminder Singh, one of the drivers involved in the court action, told The Canadian Press.
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The drivers claim that, as a group, they have relatively spotless driving records.
In a statement last week, MPI confirmed that several commercial-class drivers licensed outside the province have been notified that they must recertify to Manitoba Class One driver testing standards. The company also said that retesting is being done under relevant provisions of The Drivers and Vehicles Act.
“This action is not based on race or ethnicity but rather to address public safety concerns and the corporation’s obligation to enforce Manitoba driver testing and licensing standards as administrator of the act,” MPI said.
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Canadian Press reported that the trucking group’s court application will be heard by a judge early this week.
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