Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation is now providing residents with the option to access driver and motor vehicle services from the comfort of their homes, workplaces or from anywhere else with an internet connection. Online driver and motor vehicle services are part of the government’s Service Innovation Strategy. Effective and efficient government is achieved by reducing red tape and connecting NWT residents and businesses with the information and services they need.
It has taken over five years of dedicated work to modernize the Motor Vehicle Information System. Now, we have been shifting our focus outward to expand online services to our clients.
Our first move was to offer electronic notifications. We’re streamlining processes and delivering more efficient government at the click of a button.
How many of us have forgotten to renew our registration or driver’s licence, only to be reminded by a ticket? NWT drivers, commercial carriers, and organizations may now create accounts to manage their driver and motor vehicle information through the Department of Transportation website. It’s as easy as going under the “Drivers/Vehicles” tab at the top of the page, and clicking on the link that reads “On-line Services”. Once registered, Northerners can subscribe to receive e-mail reminders to renew a driver’s license, general identification card, vehicle registration, drivers medical, appointments, and commercial vehicle inspection notifications.
Vehicle owners can now also renew their vehicle registration anytime, from anywhere that has Internet access, as early as three months before the registration expires. This is an important step that will particularly benefit those in small communities without issuing sites or who are outside the territory at renewal time. Online services also reduce wait times and improve service quality at Driver and Motor Vehicle issuing offices.
At our busiest issuing site here in Yellowknife, we have recently implemented a number of initiatives including queuing systems, posting wait times online, and implementing measurable service standards to improve the client experiences. We expect that up to half of registration renewals will be processed online. That means clients who do need to come to the office will have shorter wait times. In small communities, Government Service Officers have been trained and are available to provide assistance.
The Department will soon expand online services to include scheduling appointments such as driver tests and obtaining your driver record online. In the long-term, we hope to offer online drivers licence renewals, address changes, and commercial vehicle permits.
Streamlining the driver and motor vehicle services also includes eliminating validation stickers on NWT license plates. When renewing vehicle registrations, clients will receive blank masking stickers to cover previously issued date stickers. Over the next year, like other jurisdictions, we will be phasing out the use of validation stickers. This will streamline the process for online registrations.
With technology and client-centered thinking, there are endless possiblilities for innovative service delivery. I look forward to keeping you updated on our ongoing efforts to improve service delivery and reduce red tape. In the meantime, I encourage residents to go to the Department of Transportation’s website and click “Online services” under “Drivers/Vehicles” to begin taking advantage of this convenience.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.