Nunavut pilot project aims to speed up processing of driver’s licence applications
Applications in Taloyoak can be approved in a matter of hours
Nunavut’s minister of economic development and transportation, David Akeeagok, says a new pilot program in Taloyoak will speed up the process to get a licence to operate a motor vehicle. (File photo)
People living in Taloyoak can now take part in a new pilot project aimed at speeding up the process to get a driver’s licence, David Akeeagok, the economic development and transportation minister, said in the legislature last week.
“It is an understatement to say it is a challenge to provide good service and high levels of security, while using old technology and poor connectivity to cover the long distances we have in Nunavut,” he said.
The pilot project connects the Motor Vehicles Information System in Ottawa to the government liaison office in Taloyoak, Akeeagok said.
Most communities have government liaison offices where residents can apply for a licence to operate a motor vehicle. Those applications need to be sent to Ottawa for approval, which can take weeks.
Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven are the only communities with offices where applications can be entered directly into the Motor Vehicles Information System.
Under the new program, the government liaison office in Taloyoak can now enter motor vehicle-related transactions directly into the Motor Vehicles Information System.
“This means an application entered in Taloyoak can be approved for production in Ottawa in a matter of hours rather than weeks,” Akeeagok said.
Allan Rumbolt, MLA for Hudson Bay, noted that one of the problems with the driver’s licence application process in the territory is “the mailing of drivers’ licences from Ottawa to regional centres for verification and then mailing these drivers’ licences out to the communities.”
“Did this pilot project involve mailing the drivers’ licences directly to the communities from Ottawa to further speed up the process and, if not, why not?” asked.
“At this point, as part of this pilot project, the community of Taloyoak was able to enter it into the system and get those approvals in place within our regional or headquarter offices. Our process is thorough, just to make sure that there are checks and balances,” Akeeagok said.
“I believe, from what I understand and this will be an ongoing thing, one of my ongoing reviews is to see if we can send it directly to the communities with our systems in place,” Akeeagok added.
Rumbolt also asked Akeeagok to update the assembly on the timeline to bring similar pilot projects to other communities.
Akeeagok said Pond Inlet, Igloolik, Kugluktuk and Baker Lake are next on his department’s list to receive the pilot project.
If only the Taloyoak liaison person went to work once in a while.
probably still has a better attendance record than the Cambay Crew
I think the Res Bay crew got both ya beat…..100k for 50% attendance sounds awesome.
Someone came from Cambridge to train the new CLO here last year and the CLO didn’t even show up one day out of four for her training. Meanwhile the trainer could have stayed in Cambridge saving the GN thousands of dollars (if not tens of thousands).
I lived in Sani and knew people who did not get the service that others get in a same place . Sani is small town everything is done by small town politics . just the way it is. And the lady there will refuse the service if she does not like anyone’s past. It’s kinda sad because people can’t get to their medical appointments without Nunavut ID . If things were done differently I don’t think it would have been a problem . It’s been like that since 1999
Sounds like these liaison people need a shake up. I wonder who supervises them if anyone? Late , missing in action for days, sometimes intoxicated on the job, nepotism, etc…. They are earning big bucks but are not dedicated to their jobs obviously. People complain about not being able to find them in the office and get the services they need. Mr. Minister? Who’s minding the store?