For
Immediate Release
February 28, 2006
Questions Minister about new rules regarding
identification required
Queen’s Park,
“I have heard from my
constituents that the new regulations are creating an additional barrier for
16-year-olds who are looking forward to learning to drive,” said Mr. Sterling.
“I know how important it is to a young person to be able to get their
driver’s licence and I can’t imagine the frustration of going to apply for
your G1 only to find out that you have to wait longer because you don’t have
acceptable documentation.”
The new rules introduced in
January of this year were precipitated by
“I appreciate that the
Minister responded to the report of the Auditor General in order to crack down
on fraudulent applications, but in typical McGuinty government fashion, I
don’t believe he thought through his plan before implementing it,” said Mr.
Sterling.
The Ministry of Transportation’s website lists several “acceptable documents”, but fails to consider the fact that a Canadian-born 16-year-old who doesn’t have a Passport, but has a birth certificate and a student card with no signature and an old version of the health card signed by a parent, can’t get a G1. They are put in the position of having to apply for a Passport, at a cost of $85.00 or obtain a new individual health card (only available at age 16).
After Minister Takhar told Mr. Sterling he would not change the rules, Mr. Murdoch offered some possible solutions like accepting a parent’s identification. Minister Takhar responded by trying to diminish the issue, saying “there are only a very small number of students who are facing this kind of issue.”
“The rules have only been in place for 36 days and many MPPs are receiving complaints,” said Mr. Sterling. “Let’s fix this problem for our young people now.”
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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900