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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid is calling upon Government Services Minister
Diane Whelan to re-establish driver examiner services on Fogo Island, Change
Islands and other areas of his district, similar to a decision that was
taken earlier this week to put the service back in Burgeo because of
geographic considerations and the financial hardship being placed on
residents. "I fully support Minister Whelan’s decision to re-establish
driver examiner services in Burgeo," said Mr. Reid. "However, I must
question government’s logic of including one rural region because of
geographic and financial issues, but exclude the people living in other
rural areas such as Fogo Island and Change Islands. Each time an individual
from Fogo Island requires the services of a driver examiner, they must take
a ferry and drive the remaining distance to either Gander or Grand
Falls-Windsor. Not only is this a significant inconvenience, but the costs
associated with the ferry and gas are very expensive. This is compounded by
the fact that government has increased ferry rates by 25 per cent over the
past two years and refuses to give any gas tax relief to the people of the
province.
"Forcing these individuals to travel hours to avail of these services is
unreasonable. Those needing to do a driver’s test must find someone to take
a full day off and drive them to their appointments. The entire trip can be
two or three hours one way, and some people are forced to stay in a hotel
because they miss the return ferry trip. Those who fail the test are
expected to go through this same unreasonable hassle again. Those requiring
something as simple a picture for their licence must also make this trip.
How is this treating rural areas fairly?
"Government’s decision to remove driver examiner services was certainly
an ill-thought out decision that has saved government minimal dollars.
Minister Whelan recognized the error of this decision as it relates to
Burgeo and I hope she will recognize the similar problems in areas such as
Fogo Island and Change Islands."
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