Alan
Ward, Tom Blyth, Roy McCord – all driver examiners, and members of
the MERC
I’ve been in this studio before, with other OPSEU members,
talking about the impact of privatization. You could write me off as
just protecting my members’ jobs.
But I think since Walkerton, people are beginning to understand
just what public service work does:
It serves the public interest; it addresses public safety; it deals
with public responsibility and public accountability.
I’m here today to put Bill 137, the so-called Road User
Customer Service Improvement Act, into that context.
Bill 137 allows the ministry to privatize every aspect of
"Road User Safety." That could include driver testing, and
all highway inspection, investigation and enforcement.
The government has already called for companies to express interest
in taking over driver examinations, so let’s start there.
I have handed out a fact sheet of documented concerns. Let me
expand on those.
Confidentiality
In Alberta, private registry companies make some $2 million a year
selling personal driver licence information to private investigators,
lawyers, insurance companies and parking lot operators.
There is a lot of personal information on drivers’ licence files.
Name, address, age, physical description, some medical restrictions.
If you pay by credit card – or use your credit card for cheque ID
– this information can be linked to it. This is valuable information
in the wrong hands. It could be used for credit card fraud or to
create phony ID. It could also be used to stalk and harass.
Alberta has already had problems with agencies making fake drivers’
licences.
The public service protects our interests as citizens through the
oath of secrecy sworn by all public servants and by the Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act. In the private sector,
motivated entirely by profit, those safeguards are out the window.
Dangerous drivers:
In Alberta, the association representing private driver examiners
is worried that unscrupulous examiners are finding ways around the
testing guidelines.
Tests are too short to assess a driver’s abilities.
An association spokesperson even suggested that other provinces
might not recognize Alberta licences, so that if you moved from
Alberta you would have to be re-tested.
The experience of private testing in Virginia indicates unqualified
drivers are getting licences. The Washington Post reported that
audits of road tests showed they were not consistent and uniform.
Record keeping was spotty and in some cases non-existent
I don’t often quote Tory cabinet ministers with approval, but I’d
like to quote James Auld, Minister of Transport in 1963.
"It is an awesome responsibility to drive a motor vehicle
and every person who applies for his first driver’s licence now
must pass fair and realistic tests, uniform in all parts of the
province, to prove that he has the knowledge and ability to be
entrusted with this responsibility."
Auld was talking about the province ending abuses by taking over
driver examinations in 1961.
There is nothing to indicate the abuses won’t return when that
takeover is reversed.
When Mr. Auld was talking, there was no Highway 401. In the
intervening 40 years, cars have become more powerful and our highways
more crowded. Driving today is much more dangerous and much more
complex. The distractions are more numerous. Everything he said then
is even more true now. And the hazards he was working to overcome are
much greater.
Corruption:
There are several opportunities for corruption to creep into the
driver exam system.
I’ve already alluded to the potential for fake ID and for abuse
of the information in the licencing records. The advent of computers
vastly increases the potential for harm.
We all know the importance of a driver’s licence as ID. It’s a
valuable document and people will pay to get one. And they will pay
quite a lot. I have three driver examiners with me today. Ask any of
them what they have been offered to give a candidate a pass mark on a
failed test.
I have confidence in the integrity of our members. But I also
understand human frailty. Take away decent working conditions and
rates of pay, take away job security and the collective agreement,
move away from a work culture of public service, and the temptations
become stronger.
I don’t know about you, but I spent enough time on our highways
that I want to know everyone behind the steering wheels all around me
knows what the heck they are doing.
Take a close look at driver testing and the conclusion is obvious.
This belongs in the public domain.
Conclusion:
This government’s experience with privatization in the Ministry
of Transportation – highway maintenance – wound up costing more
than having staff do the job, and maintenance levels are suffering.
Why? The profit comes from doing less work, and from cutting
corners. And profit-motivated operations aren’t going to forego
profit in the interest of public safety.
This will cost more too – but the costs will go to applicants.
The private operators will be able to set their fees and keep the
money. The system brings $15 million a year into provincial revenues,
on top of sales of information. We’re giving that money away, rather
than spending it on health care, education, social services and other
things the province needs.
Look at the record. The public took over driver testing for a
reason, and those reasons are as valid today as they ever were.
I’m calling on the government to learn from the Walkerton
experience. Don’t put more innocent Ontario residents at risk just
because they use our highways and roads.
Thank you. I’m prepared to answer questions.
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