Punjab Immigrants Sentenced in Canadian Trucking School Fraud Case

Two Indian-origin men have been sentenced to house arrest in Canada after being convicted of running fraudulent truck-driving schools that exploited new immigrants from South Asia, including many from Punjab.

An Ontario Superior Court judge handed down the decision late last month, concluding a five-week trial involving Gurvinder Singh, 69, and Gurpreet Singh, 37. Both men were found guilty of defrauding students by offering sub-standard training that failed to meet mandatory safety standards, and for falsifying documents to secure commercial truck driving licences.

Elaborate Fraud Targeting Newcomers

Justice Pierre Roger, who delivered the judgment on October 29, described the operation as a “complex and elaborate scheme” that impacted road safety and tarnished the reputation of truck drivers in Canada. Over a span of two years, the duo targeted approximately 50 South Asian immigrants, most of whom communicated in Punjabi and were new to the country.

The fraudulent schools, located in Quebec, operated outside the province’s regulatory framework and were not registered to offer the government-mandated Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT). Instead, they charged students between CAD $4,000 and $5,000—slightly lower than the official courses—promising full qualification but delivering inadequate training.

The court also heard how the Singhs paid intermediaries to illegally access the Ministry of Transportation’s database, allowing them to falsely certify their students’ completion of MELT, a requirement for obtaining a Class A commercial truck licence in Ontario.

Court Rejects Push for Jail Time

Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term, but the court instead imposed conditional sentences of two years less a day to be served in the community, noting that both men posed no ongoing threat and were respected in their circles.

“It was a serious breach of trust involving careful planning and significant impact on road safety,” the judge observed. “The students were promised legitimate training but were left underprepared, placing both themselves and the public at risk.”

In addition to the conditional sentence, each man is required to complete 200 hours of community service. Gurpreet Singh also faces a forfeiture order involving three trucks used in the commission of the offence.

Broader Concerns Over Trucking Safety

The case has reignited debate around Canada’s trucking industry, particularly incidents involving poorly trained or fatigued drivers. Several high-profile accidents involving immigrant drivers have raised concerns over the adequacy of training programs.

In one tragic case from 2018, 16 members of a Humboldt hockey team were killed when a trucker from India failed to stop at an intersection in Saskatchewan. Similar fatal collisions—many involving transport trucks driven by new Canadians—have led several provinces to introduce stricter training standards.

Community Impact

While many of the affected students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to earn a livelihood, the court ruled that the deceit involved could not be ignored. The fraudulent practices not only compromised road safety but also undermined efforts by authorities to regulate an industry that plays a central role in Canada’s supply chain.

Both Gurvinder and Gurpreet Singh, now Canadian citizens, had settled into stable family lives and careers. Yet, as the judge noted, “their actions jeopardized the very system designed to protect their community and the public.”

The sentencing serves as a reminder of both the vulnerabilities of new immigrants and the importance of upholding safety standards in essential industries like transportation.