MELT licence issues leave N.B. students in the dark
When Woodstock resident Jonathan Laforest enrolled at Transport Training Centres of Canada’s (TTCC) Moncton campus, he was thrilled.
He wanted to work in the truck-transportation field.
TTCC has been operating in Canada since 2009 and is based in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John.
Laforest had already completed a heavy equipment operating course, but to move such equipment on a job site, he needed a Class One licence, which he planned to obtain by completing Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) at TTCC.
MELT, according to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, is a Canada-wide initiative which ensures transport truck drivers in New Brunswick receive the same instruction as in other Canadian jurisdictions.
The program includes at least 112 hours of standardized instruction covering the essential knowledge and skills needed to safely operate a large truck, including classroom training, in-yard training, standardized practical training, and an air brake component.
Included in the program is approximately 70 hours of driving time, classroom training, in-yard training, standardized practical training, and an air brake component.
“He was all excited, and accepted to go,” said Jonathan’s father, Mitch Laforest.
But this excitement was short-lived, as after the holidays, when Jonathan followed up with the company about when the next classes would be held, he received no response.
“When it came time for us to do our drive time, they just completely cut ties with us,” said Jonathan. “I’d call and call and call and no answer.”
According to Jonathan, whenever he did get in touch with TTCC representatives, he was repeatedly told that all issues would be resolved by the end of the week.
It turned out that over the holidays, TTCC’s operating license to teach the MELT course had been revoked by the Department of Justice and Public Safety.
“I feel screwed over… if public safety shut it down then they should have had steps in place for students to finish [quickly],” said Mitch.
The Department of Justice and Public Safety has refused to comment on why the license was revoked, citing privacy concerns.
“The department has been working with impacted students since March,” wrote Deptartment of Post Secondary Education, Training and Labour Communications officer Rebecca Howland in an email.
“A letter was sent to impacted students in April along with a request for compensation form for them to complete and submit.”
She said the department is working with funding partners and the alternative training options to ensure students are compensated or receive equivalent training.
“Students are encouraged to continue to engage with Post-Secondary Relations at lfpsp-pota@gnb.ca. The department is working with all partners and students in reviewing their applications, verifying funding records/receipts, and processing students’ requests for compensation/training,” Howland added.
According to John Beaudry, CEO of TTCC, up until the summer of 2025, TTCC had never interacted with the Department of Justice.
“[However], there was a little bit of an issue with one of their examiners at Fredericton, didn’t quite get along with our trainers, or didn’t like the school, or didn’t like people from Ontario, not sure what it was… that particular trainer didn’t like but they complained about a lot of stuff,” said Beaudry, offering his side of the story.
“Shortly after they found out I was native, and that really seemed to change the tone of everything,” Beaudry claimed.
“There was one instance where they refused to let [a student] go for road test because they said the tire was bald and it certainly wasn’t.”
He contested other complaints, including claims of a lack of maintenance and repair records. Beaudry said the TTCC has not recieved any complaints and insists that his company keeps well-catalogued records.
According to Beaudry, the government is also alleging that he used Ontario trainers instead of instructors from New Brunswick. He said that is allowed under the Labour Mobility Act.
The Department of Justice and Public Safety has also reached out to TTCC to conduct an audit, which Beaudry said the department requested an audit, and he said his company fully cooperated.
Beaudry is currently involved in court proceedings, undergoing a judicial review of his company’s license. He says he plans to aggressively pursue damages in the near future.
