Province working to clear backlog of road tests due to COVID-19
News from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, with a response from Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates
Posted October 14th, 2021 on Niagara At Large
NIAGARA FALLS – The Ontario government is opening a temporary road test centre in Niagara Falls to increase testing capacity and help clear the backlog of road tests due to COVID-19.
“Opening a temporary road test centre in Niagara Falls will help increase testing capacity across the DriveTest network and help local residents book a G2 or G road test sooner,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West. “Our government has a strategic plan to reduce the backlog of novice road tests, and I am pleased that we are delivering additional testing for people in Niagara.”
Located at 6080 McLeod Road, the temporary centre will open on October 18, 2021, and offer class G2 and G road tests seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Customers will be able to book road tests online at DriveTest.ca beginning October 14, 2021.
“We’re making tremendous progress towards clearing the backlog of road tests,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “By opening temporary road test centres, hiring additional driver examiners, and extending weekday operating hours for passenger road testing, we’re getting Ontario back on track.”
All DriveTest customers will be required to wear face masks, use hand sanitizer and complete the COVID-19 customer screening
The public should only book road tests at DriveTest.ca and avoid booking through third-party websites.
Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates responds to local DriveTest Announcement
Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates
NIAGARA FALLS — NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls), responded to the announcement by the Ministry of Transportation that Niagara Falls will be getting an additional DriveTest centre to clear the backlog of tests.
“I know this has upset a lot of people, and rightfully, so we’re happy to see that we were able to secure this centre and get these tests done,” said Gates. “Hopefully this backlog will be cleared shortly and things will return to normal for drivers.”
In August, Gates wrote directly to Minister Mulroney highlighting the backlog of tests in Niagara. Minister Mulroney followed up with Gates directly indicating that a DriveTest centre would open in Niagara to alleviate the backlog.
“Now that the government has listened to us and the residents of Niagara Falls, we need this test centre to open its door immediately and be properly staffed,” said Gates. “We’ve had kids being told they need to wait until 2025 to get their full licenses.”
“The backlog created at DriveTest has affected people beyond those looking for just for a G1 or G2. We have seniors who haven’t been able to get their licenses and forced to rely on family members to bring them food and medication–we need this addressed immediately by the new centre opening in Niagara Falls.”
NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.
Niagara At Large 