- 注册
- 2002-10-07
- 消息
- 402,249
- 荣誉分数
- 76
- 声望点数
- 0
At 82, Norm Alexander really relies on his car, especially in winter because it allows him to get out a bit in the village of Russell, usually to the coffee shop to shoot the breeze with his pals.
So when Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation suspended his driver’s licence just before Christmas for not doing his renewal review — he maintains the door of the building where he had the appointment was locked when he arrived 10 minutes late — Alexander suddenly found himself depending on people to drive him around.
Alexander, who faced a three-month wait for a new appointment, wasn’t a happy man.
He says licensed seniors are victims of age discrimination, and believes his 67-year driving record should speak for itself.
What made his situation even more frustrating was that the MTO had previously delayed his review twice after he turned 82 last May because it was booked solid with appointments. But at least he was allowed to keep driving while he waited for it to come up.
Ontario drivers, once they reach 80, have to undergo the “senior driver program” bi-annually to prove they can still drive safely. It involves a driver record assessment, vision test and 45-minute group education session with two exercises, and, if necessary, a road exam.
After he received a notice in the mail last spring, he called the MTO for an appointment and was told the best it could do was Sept. 4. Then, in late summer, he was informed his appointment had been changed to Dec. 18.
He says he thought his 1 p.m. appointment was actually at 1:30, and he arrived at the MOT building at 1:10 following a 30-minute drive from his home in Russell. When he couldn’t get inside, he says he rattled the door twice but the place seemed closed. He went home, called the MTO immediately and was told the earliest available appointment was March 16 in Morrisburg. And this time around, his licence was suspended until the review.
Alexander couldn’t believe he would not be able to drive at least until mid-March. It wasn’t fair, says Alexander, as the MTO had already made him wait more than six months for an appointment, and now seemed to be penalizing him.
“They couldn’t do anything for me,” says Alexander, who was counting mostly on his wife to drive him places. The couple wondered how they would get around if she failed her review, slated for next month.
The Public Citizen sent MTO’s media contact an email on Jan. 11 after Alexander contacted the paper. Said the message: “It’s basically the middle of winter. Can someone not help this man? It’s pretty punitive … ”
Alexander received a call from the MTO about 45 minutes later. Someone had cancelled a Jan. 14 appointment in Ottawa. He grabbed it, dismissing any suggestion the sudden opening was coincidence.
The MTO says Alexander was called on Jan. 11 and “confirmed he wrote the time incorrectly in his calendar for the December 2015 appointment and likely arrived more than 10 minutes late.” Baloney, says Alexander. He was “exactly” 10 minutes late and he couldn’t get inside the building because the door was locked.
Regardless, the review on Jan. 14 went well and he has his licence back, at least until he’s 84.
“As long as person is capable of driving, why should they be bugging neighbours or family to drive them around? I feel I can drive as good as I ever did.”
ASYLUM CLAIMANT RELEASED
Ukrainian Serhii Vakurov, granted a stay of deportation last week by the Federal Court while it decides whether his case should be reviewed, was released from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre on Tuesday following a detention review.
Vakurov maintains his life is in danger in Ukraine because corrupt authorities are after natural gas reserves on land he owns, and says they have already threatened his former partner there and their three young sons. He says his lawyer was beaten by the same people and he has lost contact with him.
Immigration officials determined that Vakurov, who was here illegally because his student visa had expired in 2013, did not provide sufficient evidence to prove risk of death or torture.
Vakurov is living again with his Ottawa girlfriend and her mother, who are acting as his sureties. There are strict conditions on his movement.
Is something bothering you? Please contact: thepubliccitizen@postmedia.com
查看原文...
So when Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation suspended his driver’s licence just before Christmas for not doing his renewal review — he maintains the door of the building where he had the appointment was locked when he arrived 10 minutes late — Alexander suddenly found himself depending on people to drive him around.
Alexander, who faced a three-month wait for a new appointment, wasn’t a happy man.
He says licensed seniors are victims of age discrimination, and believes his 67-year driving record should speak for itself.
What made his situation even more frustrating was that the MTO had previously delayed his review twice after he turned 82 last May because it was booked solid with appointments. But at least he was allowed to keep driving while he waited for it to come up.
Ontario drivers, once they reach 80, have to undergo the “senior driver program” bi-annually to prove they can still drive safely. It involves a driver record assessment, vision test and 45-minute group education session with two exercises, and, if necessary, a road exam.
After he received a notice in the mail last spring, he called the MTO for an appointment and was told the best it could do was Sept. 4. Then, in late summer, he was informed his appointment had been changed to Dec. 18.
He says he thought his 1 p.m. appointment was actually at 1:30, and he arrived at the MOT building at 1:10 following a 30-minute drive from his home in Russell. When he couldn’t get inside, he says he rattled the door twice but the place seemed closed. He went home, called the MTO immediately and was told the earliest available appointment was March 16 in Morrisburg. And this time around, his licence was suspended until the review.
Alexander couldn’t believe he would not be able to drive at least until mid-March. It wasn’t fair, says Alexander, as the MTO had already made him wait more than six months for an appointment, and now seemed to be penalizing him.
“They couldn’t do anything for me,” says Alexander, who was counting mostly on his wife to drive him places. The couple wondered how they would get around if she failed her review, slated for next month.
The Public Citizen sent MTO’s media contact an email on Jan. 11 after Alexander contacted the paper. Said the message: “It’s basically the middle of winter. Can someone not help this man? It’s pretty punitive … ”
Alexander received a call from the MTO about 45 minutes later. Someone had cancelled a Jan. 14 appointment in Ottawa. He grabbed it, dismissing any suggestion the sudden opening was coincidence.
The MTO says Alexander was called on Jan. 11 and “confirmed he wrote the time incorrectly in his calendar for the December 2015 appointment and likely arrived more than 10 minutes late.” Baloney, says Alexander. He was “exactly” 10 minutes late and he couldn’t get inside the building because the door was locked.
Regardless, the review on Jan. 14 went well and he has his licence back, at least until he’s 84.
“As long as person is capable of driving, why should they be bugging neighbours or family to drive them around? I feel I can drive as good as I ever did.”
ASYLUM CLAIMANT RELEASED
Ukrainian Serhii Vakurov, granted a stay of deportation last week by the Federal Court while it decides whether his case should be reviewed, was released from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre on Tuesday following a detention review.
Vakurov maintains his life is in danger in Ukraine because corrupt authorities are after natural gas reserves on land he owns, and says they have already threatened his former partner there and their three young sons. He says his lawyer was beaten by the same people and he has lost contact with him.
Immigration officials determined that Vakurov, who was here illegally because his student visa had expired in 2013, did not provide sufficient evidence to prove risk of death or torture.
Vakurov is living again with his Ottawa girlfriend and her mother, who are acting as his sureties. There are strict conditions on his movement.
Is something bothering you? Please contact: thepubliccitizen@postmedia.com
查看原文...
