Five families of Humboldt Broncos players who lost their lives in 2018’s bus accident have travelled to the Alberta legislature to continue their fight to see changes to the trucking industry in the province. Prior to Alberta’s provincial election, the NDP government had introduced comprehensive Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) for truckers, including those engaged in farming and driving school buses. 

However, the elected United Conservative Party (UCP) government in Alberta rescinded those changes, adding exemptions for farmer workers and bus drivers. Almost immediately, Broncos families responded decrying the move and engaging both the Alberta government and the NDP opposition. In its move, the UCP government broke ranks with both Saskatchewan and Manitoba in pursuing comprehensive reform regarding training for all drivers of semis.

Here in Saskatchewan, the Minister responsible for SGI, Joe Hargrave insists that none of the initiatives introduced to make Saskatchewan roadways safer have changed. The Government is still targeting March 2021 as the date when all drivers of large commercial units will need to have completed a full regimen of training. In the meantime, farmers were able to defer the full training by applying for the “F” licensing endorsement. Minister Hargrave reiterates the conditions.

“Effective March 1, 2020, anyone wishing to obtain the “F” endorsement on their existing driver’s license will be required to take 40 hours of commercial driver training. Of course, the “F” endorsement will be very restrictive. The operator will only be able to drive 100 kilometres radius from their vehicle registration address.”

Hargrave goes on to explain that within a year, by March 2021, the farm operator will be required to take the full 121.5 hours mandated by the Government for all Class 1A semi operators.”

The Minister notes that the decisions were made in consultation not only with the transport industry but with the agriculture sector as well. 

“Generally, everyone we talked to believed that training is necessary and that safety on our highways was so important. We worked very hard to try to get a program that fit the industry and fit with our views about safety on Saskatchewan highways.”

In Alberta, families gathered to seek answers for the decision to reverse the previous decision about mandatory training in Alberta. Together with members of the NDP opposition, they stood in solidarity asking for both reason and reconsideration. 

In her address posted on social media, NDP opposition leader Rachel Notley stated, “All Canadians are still deeply affected by images the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy. Our government brought in highway safety measures to prevent it from ever happening again.

It is unconscionable for this UCP government to roll these standards back and put Albertans at risk.”

Alberta’s Minister of Transportation, Ric McIver, indicated that consultations were underway regarding the review process, but no timeline has been established for conclusion or further communication.