Debates of February 2, 2006 (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the last few years I've been raising the issue of the driver's licence renewals as well as a brand-new driver's licence. I'd like to ask a question to the Minister of Transportation. When can we expect any updates on this matter, or the actual brand-new drivers' licences that he promised in the last budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 326-15(4): New Driver’s Licence Design

Mr. Speaker, we had committed, during the last session, that we would have a new driver's licence designed and out in the fiscal year 2006. We still stand by that. We, right now, are reviewing some of the samples that we're putting together, and we have a contractor or a consultant on stream that is working with us to do that, and we have the equipment that will allow us to start producing these drivers' licences once we finalize some of the detail on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 326-15(4): New Driver’s Licence Design

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister could elaborate a little further, does he mean this fiscal year of the '05-06 budget? Which fiscal year is he referring to that we'll get the brand-new driver's licence cards out there? As well, I didn't quite get a clear answer on will they be doing the renewal notices as he has promised in the past? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 326-15(4): New Driver’s Licence Design

Mr. Speaker, yes, the fiscal year I was referring to is 2006, the upcoming 2006-2007 fiscal year.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 326-15(4): New Driver’s Licence Design

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As far as the renewal notice, would the Minister provide some clarity on that, whether that will become the new standard practice of the Department of Transportation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 326-15(4): New Driver’s Licence Design

Yes, Mr. Speaker, that's aside from the driver's licence issuance, but the issue of having the driver's licence renewals flagged if there's any outstanding traffic violations to the client is something we're still working on. We still have some detail to work out with Justice, but we are still sticking to our targets of having something maybe by this summer. We don't have any firm dates. We don't know when we'll be able to deal with the issue that we're working on right now, and that's the issue of being able to keep the information confidential and how to flag the information and transfer it from Justice over to our road licensing program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 326-15(4): New Driver’s Licence Design

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've said in this House that I actually have a class 4 driver's licence and I do get a notice every five years about updating my medical. I was just kind of looking for a yes or no; we will do the notice with the brand-new driver's licence. The Minister brought it up himself; is he going to attach tickets to the renewal of drivers' licences? He sort of brought that up himself, so is that part of the new process that he's developing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 326-15(4): New Driver’s Licence Design

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we don't have the final detail of how the notification process will work if you have unpaid traffic violations or unpaid fines. We're expecting that if you go in to renew your driver's licence there will be a flagging on your file that will allow the officer to indicate to you that you have a violation or an unpaid fine. You would then have to go over to and clear up that fine with the Justice people. We don't have it laid out right now, but we're not expecting the Department of Transportation to be collecting fines and to be clearing up some unpaid traffic violations. So there would be something along those lines. We haven't finalized it yet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.