Ottawa Tow-truck Companies Refuse to Haul Big Rigs

Ten tow truck companies on contract with the city of Ottawa are refusing to tow illegally parked rigs that have caused gridlock throughout the city for the second week. The truckers are protesting vaccination mandates.  

Steve Kanellakos, Ottawa’s city manager, said tow companies don't want to do the work because the heavy truck industry is such a large part of their livelihoods and they don't want to damage that part of their businesses. 

"We've contacted them all and everyone, they're all refusing as of today to provide heavy tow truck work," Kanellakos said on 2/6 at a city hall briefing.

Pascal Loyer, CEO of one of the tow-truck companies contracted by the city, said his concern is for the safety of his employees and the future of his business. 

If he were to start towing trucks away from downtown, he said "nobody is going to have my back." 

Towing away a big rig without the co-operation of a driver is dangerous, difficult, and time-consuming work, he said, and the crowds downtown pose a degree of uncertainty. 

If one of his employees got hurt, he could be charged under the labour code because of the unsafe work conditions, he said.  

Loyer said he wants to remain neutral in the conflict between the city and the protesters and would like to see a political solution that avoids putting private businesses like his and public servants at risk. 

Although Ottawa's mayor has reached out to other large Ontario cities to see if they can help, and the city is calling companies across Eastern Ontario, they have found tow truck operators reticent to get involved with the protests across Canada.  

The operators they've contacted worry about long-term damage to their businesses should they help police haul away protester vehicles, said Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki. 

Kanellakos says the tow companies are still doing other work for the City of Ottawa, including towing regularly sized vehicles.  Source