EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – Alberta will once again be moving to privatized road tests.
Transportation Minister Ric McIver made the announcement Thursday saying Albertans will be able to book Class 4, 5, and 6 road tests with local registry agents or through a new online system starting Dec. 1 for tests to be conducted after Jan. 5, 2021.
“We know Albertans have been frustrated with long delays to get a road test. Returning to a privately run model will restore a system which Albertans used for years with confidence,” said McIver.
In March 2019, the former NDP government took over the road test system after more than 20 years in the private sector.
According to the Certified Drivers Examiners Association, that move led to longer wait times for tests and a decline in examiners.
When the public program launched only 77 examiners were available compared to 150 before the move.
Right now, Alberta Transportation says there are about 188 examiners, most of them employed by the government.
The association threatened job action because of the move, mainly over fair compensation.
The government will provide more oversight to how road tests are completed to avoid fraud by examiners
— steve seto (@steveseto) October 22, 2020
“This new model will restore Albertans’ confidence that their neighbourhood registry can again provide road tests at the location and on the day Albertans want,” said president, Alberta Association of Registry Agents Craig Couillard.
“More road test availability, especially in rural Alberta, will help people gain mobility and employment.”
McIver said that once fully implemented, the transition to the private tests will save taxpayers up to $12.1 million per year.
Government driver examiners will continue to conduct Class 1 to 3 commercial truck and bus road tests.
