GRIMSBY - Tim Hudak, MPP for Erie-Lincoln, called on Ontario Transport Minister, Donna Cansfield, today to find a permanent operator for the Grimsby MTO licence office.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) recently issued a Request for Proposals to find an interim operator for a local Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office. The interim operator would restore driver's licence services to area residents while the MTO decides its long-term plans for Grimsby. The MTO closed the Grimsby licensing office as of March 30, following the retirement of the office's primary operator. Since the closure of the local office, Grimsby residents have been forced to go out of town to access licensing services.

In a follow-up to his April 10 letter to Minister Cansfield requesting licence services be restored in Grimsby, Hudak urged the Minister to personally intervene in the matter and direct her staff to find a permanent operator.

"In the weeks since the Grimsby office shut down, a number of residents have contacted me to request that something be done to restore the local office," Hudak said in a second letter to Minister Cansfield. "As you know, I share their justifiable objection to the loss of this important service."

Other permanent solutions the MTO is exploring for Grimsby is opening a Service Ontario office with an operator there for assistance or possibly an unmanned Service Ontario computer kiosk. Hudak said there is simply no substitute for quality customer service.

"In an age where many people feel its government and other institutions are growing more distant due to the advent of the internet and automatic tellers," Hudak said, "it makes a world of difference to have a warm body there to provide friendly and knowledgeable assistance; as opposed to a computer monitor and page of 'frequently asked questions.'"

Even after an interim operator is found, the MTO expects it will take up to 18 weeks for the Grimsby office to re-open. Hudak asked the Minister to accelerate the process of finding a new operator by immediately advertising in the local media.

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For more information: Tim Hudak, MPP

April 24 letter to Minister Cansfield:

Dear Minister Cansfield,

I appreciated our recent conversation regarding the closure of the Grimsby MTO licence issuing office. I understand from our discussion that you are looking at various options to replace the service locally, including recently issuing a Request for Proposals to find an interim operator.

As I stressed in my letter of April 10, Grimsby is a growing community and therefore has an increasing demand for such government services. Similarly, I know Stoney Creek MPP Jennifer Mossop and Grimsby Town council have also brought this need to your attention. In the weeks since the Grimsby office shut down, a number of residents have contacted me to request that something be done to restore the local office. As you know, I share their justifiable objection to the loss of this important service.

While the MTO is currently searching for an interim operator, I understand it is also examining some long-term options, such as finding a permanent operator as it had before; opening a Service Ontario office with an operator there to assist; and possibly an unmanned Service Ontario computer kiosk.

No doubt, the residents of Grimsby would prefer you find a permanent operator to provide in-person, friendly customer service - the same great service they received from Ms. Elizabeth Topp for nearly 30 years. Even if the MTO decides to install a Service Ontario kiosk in the community, a local office staffed by a live body must be maintained. When the kiosks were introduced by the Ministry years ago, the goal was to enhance services to taxpayers not to replace existing MTO licensing offices.

In an age where many people feel its government and other institutions are growing more distant due to the advent of the internet and automatic tellers, it makes a world of difference to have a warm body there to provide friendly and knowledgeable assistance; as opposed to a computer monitor and page of "frequently asked questions".

Secondly, from conversations with you and your MTO staff, I understand that even after a provider is found and awarded an interim contract, it will take 15-to-18 weeks for an office to re-open. Perhaps with your personal intervention in this matter on behalf of Grimsby residents, I hope you can accelerate the process and re-open the office in less time.

I would also respectfully suggest the Ministry no longer add to the delay and start advertising the RFP in the local media right away. With the extra dollars the McGuinty government has pocketed since doubling driver's licence fees in 2004, advertising rates in the West Niagara newspapers are comparatively small potatoes.

Minister, I thank you for your efforts on this matter to date and ask that you personally ensure all necessary steps are taken to get the Grimsby licence office back up and running as soon as possible. I appreciate your prompt response to my inquires on behalf of the residents of Grimsby.

In closing, please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,

Tim Hudak, MPP for Erie-Lincoln