Minister defends potential changes to N.L. driver's licences
Service NL Minister Eddie Joyce is downplaying any potential changes to how drivers in this province get their licences.
Newfoundland and Labrador's largest union is upset with a proposal to centralize the printing and distribution of driver's licences out of one facility for all four Atlantic provinces.
NAPE is especially incensed that the province didn't publicize it was looking at making changes. The union says it only learned about it through a press release from Nova Scotia.
"This is privatization by stealth," said president Jerry Earle, in his own press release Tuesday.
Joyce disputes that. He said there is not even a plan in place to see any changes just yet, just a request for proposals (RFP) from the Atlantic Provinces to see if such a proposal would be worthwhile.
"[We asked] is there a way that the four Atlantic provinces can get a single provider that can provide these services for all of us to improve services?" Joyce told CBC News Tuesday afternoon.
Not about cutting jobs
"Part of the RFP is to [look at] security risk to see if there is any way to improve security on the cards and also for savings," said Joyce. "So there's no loss of jobs in this. This is not something new popping up."
Press releases from the Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island governments, released on July 15, outline a proposal that will see one private company, in a central location, be in charge of driver's licences and other photo identification for the Atlantic provinces.
Instead of getting IDs from their own province, they would be mailed out to the applicants from a central location.
Joyce said that's the only change envisioned in the call for proposals. He said nothing else will change in how the public is served.
"This is another way to decrease the lineups at the motor registrations," he said. "This is [not a] way to decrease jobs. This is to improve services, save money."
"If it comes back there is no savings there, you can't improve services, there's no security extra enhanced by this, this won't be done."
NAPE not convinced by assurances
The union isn't convinced by Joyce's statements.
Earle said NAPE members employed by Service NL currently handle those tasks, and slammed the government for the lack of notification.
"Would it have not been better that a phone call had have been placed, a meeting would have been requested or we would have been advised in advance of July 15th because obviously if this press release went out these conversations certainly would have taken place before that," Earle told On The Go Tuesday afternoon.
The union said the request for proposals could mean technological changes for staff at motor vehicle registration, and it will be filing a grievance since it wasn't notified as is laid out in its collective agreement.
Meanwhile, Earle said it remains to be seen if the proposal will enhance service and security or if printing licences off-site and mailing them out will save any time or money.
"I went in and had two printed for my children, oh, six to eight weeks ago," he said. "I waited yes, for 30 minutes or so which is not an uncommon waiting period no matter where you go."
Earle said he was served quickly when he got to the counter.
"In a matter of a few minutes my sons had their picture taken and it was passed to me in a matter of minutes."
Joyce has committed to meet with NAPE to discuss if there will be any changes in the process once the request for proposals closes Aug. 31 and the province has studied the responses.
Earle just wishes the province had handled things differently.
He said the way this rolled out only added stress to government workers who already feel under the gun as the province reviews the public service with an eye to cutting jobs.
According to the Nova Scotia press release, the new system could be up and running next summer.
