The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Already a nerve-wracking experience, obtaining a driver's license is about to also become less convenient for Flin Flonners. Effective March 1, Manitoba Public Insurance is eliminating local in-vehicle testing for class 1, 2 and 3 licenses, forcing applicants to drive to The Pas. Staff will also visit the city half as often to test those seeking a standard driver's license. They will conduct in-vehicle testing for two days every fourth week, down from the current schedule of two days every second week. MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley defended the moves, which are part of service reductions taking place in a number of rural communities. "The thinking was that the change was taking place, but it wouldn't impact a huge number of applicants," he said. Smiley said the demand in Flin Flon and other smaller centres no longer justifies present service levels. He said Flin Flon administered just three class 1 license tests in 2008 along with four class 2 and 3 tests. Throughout the province in 2008, only seven per cent of class 1, 2 and 3 tests were done in communities served by MPI's "mobile service," such as Flin Flon, Smiley said. There is no change to how Flin Flonners take the written portion of their driver's tests. The Pas does not face any cuts because, unlike Flin Flon, MPI considers the town a "major" centre by virtue of its regional population, Smiley said. He said MPI tried to ensure all Manitobans would have to drive no more than about 120 kilometres for testing. The opposition Progressive Conservatives were quick to blast the Selinger government over the province-wide reductions. "In many communities, written tests won't be available at all, and in some road tests for classes 1 to 3 will be eliminated altogether, forcing many Manitobans to lose an entire day of work to drive to other towns and cities to take the test," said MPI Critic Cliff Graydon in a press release. Graydon blamed "NDP mismanagement" for the cuts, adding that they may be a sign of additional reductions to come. "Should Manitobans Ð especially those living in rural areas Ð expect more service cuts so the NDP can balance its budget," said Graydon, "or will they do the right thing and scrap the EDL program and restore long-standing services in rural Manitoba?" One-part licence Meanwhile, MPI has announced that a new higher tech one-part driver's licence and a new, multi-year Autopac renewal system are now available for Manitobans. "The one-piece driver's licence will improve customer service by eliminating the current two-part licence, bringing Manitoba in line with other North American jurisdictions," said President and CEO Marilyn McLaren in a news release. This new durable licence card will be made of sophisticated tamper-proof material and will comply with the standards set out in the Canadian Driver's Licence Agreement. Effective immediately, Manitobans who apply for or renew a drivers' licence will receive Manitoba's new one-piece driver's licence. Those who wish to obtain the new, one-piece licence before their renewal date can make a special application. All Manitoba drivers will be fully converted to the new drivers' licence by Feb. 28, 2011. The new, multi-year renewal program will mean that drivers and vehicle owners will be required to visit their Autopac agent only once every five years, unless they want to make a change to their policy. The new multi-year system was implemented after customer surveys reported that the majority of Autopac customers Ð 80 per cent Ð made no changes to their policy. "Customers will still pay for their licence and insurance annually," said McLaren. "However, in the years in between renewals, customers will have additional payment options such as online payments for added convenience." In order to stagger renewals over a five-year period, not all customers will be placed on a five year renewal cycle when they transition to multi-year renewals. Instead most customers' policies and drivers' licenses will expire on their existing licence photo card expiry date. With documents initially expiring anywhere from one to five years, it will take four years until everyone is on the full, five year renewal cycle, said McLaren. In their renewal year, customers will need to attend their Autopac agent to renew their driver's licence, policies, and identification cards. See 'ID' on pg. Continued from pg. In between renewal years, customers will continue to be insured by simply making a payment or allowing their financing to continue. For convenience, E-payments and telephone banking will be available in between renewals. The validation stickers on plates will change due to multi-year renewals. The day sticker will be replaced by a month sticker and will be placed on the left side of the plate. The month/year sticker will be replaced with a year sticker and will be placed on the right side. The new validation stickers will be good for up to five years and will be replaced every five years at renewal. Manitoba drivers will also have the option of obtaining a new enhanced drivers licence, which is a photo identification card that denotes identity and citizenship, effective now. The new enhanced drivers' licence, which can be used instead of a passport, meets entry requirements for travelling to the U.S. (by land and water only).
