Laurie in Question Period
International Drivers’ Licenses
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. People newly relocated here must get and have an Alberta driver’s licence, but with a few exceptions someone with an international licence has to surrender that and apply for an exemption on the full graduated licence program, and they can’t drive in the meantime. Given the number of adults moving here from elsewhere, there must be a significant number of people now in this situation. My questions are to the Minister of Service Alberta. Why does the province immediately accept and credit someone with a British or Korean driver’s licence but not an Australian one?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to attaining a driver’s licence in Alberta, of course, there are rules and things you have to go through to get the licence. If there’s a particular instance where somehow needs a driver’s licence or we need to check into something, I’d be more than happy to check into that on her behalf.
Ms Blakeman: Yes, Minister, you have some work to do.
There are a number of countries that you have reciprocal agreements with, but with most countries you don’t. I’d like to know when the minister will be pursuing those other countries to obtain reciprocal agreements with them.
Mrs. Klimchuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m happy to say that the high standards we have with the issuing of drivers’ licences is something that I’ve become very aware of. With respect to reciprocal agreements with other countries, that is something where we’ll continue to work with those countries and continue to do the right thing so new Albertans coming can get their drivers’ licences.
Ms Blakeman: Well, Mr. Speaker, to the same minister: how is it helpful, when the province is trying to draw these new skilled and educated workers, to have these people waiting six to eight weeks to get an answer back on whether they can receive an exemption, and that’s before they can even start to book the driver’s licence test, for which there is an additional three to four week wait? So we have these good, skilled people not working, not driving, and waiting almost three months. How is this helpful?
Mrs. Klimchuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, with respect to the process of new people coming to Alberta, if there are some inherent problems that we need to address, I am more than happy to look at those to make sure that the process is fair and that when they come to Alberta, they can become part of the workforce quickly.
Thank you.
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