Upcoming Consultations: Review of the Motor Vehicle Operators Hours of Work Regulations (Canada Labour Code)

The Fleet Safety Council would like to share the following important information regarding Hours of Work for Federally Regulated Carriers.

The Labour Program is currently undertaking a review of the Motor Vehicle Operators Hours of Work Regulations (MVOHWR). These regulations are enabled under Part III of the Canada Labour Code and prescribe, among other things, what is counted as working hours for which motor vehicle operators must be remunerated and which of these hours are to be compensated at the overtime rate.

Recent consultations about the implementation of new hours of work provisions under Part III of the Code, following significant legislative changes, have brought to light a number of issues with the MVOHWR. This includes concerns that the MVOHWR’s provisions, which were the subject of only minor amendments since coming into force in 1973, may no longer reflect the needs and realities of employees and employers in today’s road transportation industry. The present review aims to revisit and modernize the MVOHWR, to the extent required.

Please see the downloads below (in both English and French) of the consultation paper that describes some of the issues for which the Labour Program would like to hear the views of stakeholders. The paper identifies potential amendments for consideration, but please note that any significant modifications will depend heavily on input received from stakeholders. Although feedback is welcome regarding any aspect of the MVOHWR, the consultation paper focuses on three main themes:

  • Defining motor vehicle operators
  • Prescribing standard hours of work for motor vehicle operators
  • Defining working hours for motor vehicle operators

The consultation will be held over three sessions, though additional sessions may be added if necessary to accommodate a large number of interested participants. The proposed sessions are as follows:

  • February 9, 1:00pm – 4:00pm EST, held in English
  • February 11, 1:00pm – 4:00pm EST, held in English
  • February 12, 1:00pm – 4:00pm EST, held in French

If you are interested in attending a session please note that they will all take place online using the Cisco Webex videoconferencing application, but participants will also have the option to phone in. The details to access the meeting will be provided to all confirmed participants in advance. A fifteen minute break will be provided around the midpoint of each session.

If you are interested in attending please email ESDC.LS.MVOHWR.CONSULTATIONS-CONSULTATIONS.RDTCVA.NT.EDSC@labour-travail.gc.ca and advise who from your organization will be attending and which session you would like to attend:

Stakeholders are also welcome to respond in writing to the questions found in the consultation paper, through the same email address. Written comments should be sent no later than March 5, 2021 to ensure that they can be considered before the Labour Program begins drafting modifications of the MVOHWR.

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