Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) says it’s resuming Class 5 driver testing services in partnership with MPI-certified driver education instructors.
In a media release, MPI Chairperson Ward Keith said, “I am pleased that MPI officials are working with MPI-certified driver education instructors throughout Manitoba to resume driver testing services. This is a testament to the strong and trusting relationships that MPI has with its business partners and stakeholders, and their commitment to maintaining core services to our mutual customers.”
The release goes on to say, “MPI’s plan to resume driver testing is a multi-pronged strategy that will be monitored closely by MPI officials and revised as necessary. Drivers who successfully complete MPI’s comprehensive driver education program will be certified for licensure without a road test. All other Class 5 drivers will be offered road tests with MPI-certified driver
education instructors. Priority will be given to those customers who have already had appointments cancelled as a result of the unnecessary strike action. Driving instructors will have discretion to perform the testing in customer vehicles or in their own safety-equipped training vehicles. For all drivers licensed during this time, MPI’s Registrar of Motor Vehicles will have the discretion to require no-charge retesting once the labour disruption is over.
MPI knowledge testing has also resumed and customers with existing appointments are being contacted with details about how and where those knowledge tests will be administered for the duration of MGEU-initiated service disruptions. With contingency plans for most driver testing services now in place, MPI remains able to deliver on its core services affecting Manitobans:
• All general enquiries and service transactions, including driver licence and insurance renewals, new insurance policies, and payments can be handled by any one of Manitoba’s 300 broker partners.
• The MPI Contact Centre remains open for reporting new personal injury claims, collisions claims involving non-drivable vehicles, and total thefts.
• Customers reporting all other collision claims, including hail claims, can now contact an MPI-accredited repair shop directly to arrange for estimates and repairs, without calling MPI first. This includes customers who have had vehicle estimate appointments cancelled due to MGEU strike action. Customers can expedite this process and save themselves time by first completing MPI’s simplified claim reporting form, which can now be found on the MPI website.
• Customers with scheduled road tests are being contacted directly to arrange for certification or road tests with MPI-certified driver education instructors.
• Customers with knowledge test appointments are being contacted with details on how and where those tests will now be administered.
• Customers with vehicles towed to the Physical Damage Centre compound will continue to have access to remove personal items.
• Other essential services, such as income replacement payments for personal injury claimants, will continue uninterrupted.”
The release also says “In spite of alternate service strategies now being fully in place, MPI continues to call on MGEU to finalize a new four-year collective agreement.”
