Debates of August 15, 2007 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Transportation. It’s in regards to something that I have been working on with his department and it has to do with the driver's licence. Mr. Speaker, lots of coverage has been made in the issue. The new format, while it’s very good and very needed, and it takes up security questions, but it doesn’t have the system in place to accommodate long names. I know that department…and people could have all kinds of reasons for having long names. My constituent, in particular, has four names she was given by birth and she goes by the fourth name. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has indicated that the software is being changed to accommodate this, but it has been delayed and delayed and delayed. So I’d like to ask the Minister, what is the most recent update on that issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 116-15(6): Driver’s Licence Formatting Issues

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to say that the department has been working hard with the providers of the software and there have been software changes made. We’re continually testing it in the next couple weeks and we expect to roll out the new changes by close to the end of September, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 116-15(6): Driver’s Licence Formatting Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate his answer but I have to tell you that this has been an ongoing issue for a long time and the last deadline I had from his officials was that they were hoping to have it in place by the end of July. The latest date I’m getting is by the end of September. I’d like to accept the Minister’s answer for what it is, but I have to believe there must be other reasons why it’s delaying that. I’m wondering if he could give reasons as to why the complications and could he communicate with us, to me, in writing, as to exactly what’s behind it, why the delay, and why is it that he’s sure that it will be in place by the end of September? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 116-15(6): Driver’s Licence Formatting Issues

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Certainly the changes of the new computer programming or general identity card system, the problems have been that there are only 45 characters allotted on the first line and so we usually run into issues when we’re providing many names there, Mr. Speaker. That was one of the complications that we have had. The software changes have taken a lot more time than anticipated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 116-15(6): Driver’s Licence Formatting Issues

I don’t know. These software problems. Mr. Speaker, could I just ask the Minister to make a commitment to either make a statement in this House to confirm that he’s going to do this, when he’s going to do it so that I have something in writing, or he could write me a letter so that I could have a commitment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 116-15(6): Driver’s Licence Formatting Issues

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would be glad to provide the Member with more details. I’ll simply go back to the provider, the people doing the testing, and get a firm date for the Member to answer her request. Mahsi.