Ontario’s Ombudsman is looking for changes to how the Ministry of Transportation notifies drivers whose licenses are suspended.
Paul Dube makes 41 recommendations for improvement.
Dube says problems with the Ministry’s communications, record-keeping and customer service have resulted in many drivers unknowingly driving while suspended.
The Ombudsman says in some cases, drivers paid the outstanding fines but were not aware of a reinstatement fee to get their licences back.
Dube says one of the problems is the MTO notifying drivers by mail, yet not knowing if those notices actually reached them.
He adds, “even when the system works as intended, it is fundamentally flawed.”
He calls it “a concern for all of us” if “tens of thousands” of drivers are on the road without a valid drivers licence.
