Ontario Seeks Public Feedback to Improve the Towing Industry

TORONTO ― Ontario has released a survey to gather feedback from the public on their experiences with the towing industry. The survey will remain open for five weeks until January 15, 2021. Input from the survey will be used to help inform the development of a provincial oversight model that will increase safety, outline protections for consumers, improve towing industry standards and consider tougher penalties for violators.

“We want to hear from everyone about their experiences and challenges when using towing services across the province,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “This feedback will influence the development of our plan to provide stronger oversight of the towing industry and ensure our roads and highways remain among the safest in North America.”

This survey is part of the provincial towing task force’s work to help develop a regulatory model for the towing industry. The task force has consulted more than 70 stakeholders in the towing, consumer, automobile insurance, municipal and law enforcement sectors.

“Our government is developing tougher standards for the towing sector in response to concerns raised about violence and criminal activity in the industry,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “We encourage anyone who has used towing services in Ontario to tell us about their experience through the online survey.”

A summary of the survey results will be made available in winter 2021. The province will also report back on the task force’s proposals for further action to improve safety on Ontario roadsides.

To complete the survey please visit: Ontario.ca/TowingSurvey.

Quick Facts

• In June 2020, the province established a towing task force to develop a regulatory model for the province’s towing industry, which could include consideration of increased protections for consumers against the first-to-scene unethical business practices, insurance savings through a crackdown on insurance fraud rings or improved consumer choice for payments.
• The task force includes representatives from the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, the Ministry of Finance and the Ontario Provincial Police.
• There are approximately 1,600 tow truck companies registered in the Ministry of Transportation’s Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) program. A valid CVOR certificate is required to operate a tow truck.

SOURCE: Province of Ontario