As part of the province’s enhanced measures announced earlier today, the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and ServiceOntario, is extending the validity period of driving products, services and health cards. These changes reduce the need for in-person visits to ServiceOntario, International Registration Plan offices and DriveTest centres during the COVID-19 outbreak, helping to promote social distancing and contain the spread of the virus.
“The Government of Ontario continues to take decisive action to protect the health and safety of all individuals and families and support the trucking industry,” said Geoff Wood, Senior VP, Policy, Ontario Trucking Association.
These new regulations include extensions for driver licences, licence plate validation, Ontario Photo Cards, and Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration certificates, among others. Expiring and expired health cards will continue to provide access to health services.
The Ministry of Transportation is also automatically extending the due dates for medical or vision reports, which both reduces the need for in-person visits, but also ensures that patients do not need to visit their doctors, helping the health system to focus on containing COVID-19. The extensions will be in place until such time that, based on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and public health officials, the current situation improves.
“We are extremely thankful to the Government of Ontario for these immediate and necessary actions that will allow trucking operations to continue in a compliant manner,” said Wood. “The support, collaboration and immediacy provided to the trucking industry by all government departments, at all levels is unprecedented and shows the clear dedication to our industry from the province and an understanding of the important role the trucking industry will play in getting us through these challenging times.”
The Ministry of Transportation will also continue to deliver time-critical services, including Motor Vehicle Inspection Station Stock orders and Single-Trip Oversize/Overweight permits.
OTA will continue to work with all relevant government departments to raise awareness on trucking issues brought forward by the members of the Association.