Winnipeg Free Press > Local > Manitoba ID cards $1,700 each: Tories

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Manitoba ID cards $1,700 each: Tories

By: Larry Kusch

24/11/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 47

MANITOBA will forge ahead with a plan to introduce an enhanced driver's licence in the new year, despite opposition criticism that the move to enhanced identification was poorly planned and a waste of money.

Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen said Monday that few Manitobans have bothered to buy the enhanced ID card, introduced this year, at a cost to Manitoba Public Insurance of $14 million.

The card, which can be purchased for $50, is cheaper than a passport and acceptable as identification at the U.S. border. However, only 8,000 have been issued in Manitoba, the Tories say.

"That is a cost of more than $1,700 per card issued, which is absolutely outrageous..." McFadyen said, adding the government should have done its homework.

While he said the government should honour the cards already issued, he demanded the program be scrapped and Manitoba abandon plans to issue an enhanced driver's licence.

However, Andrew Swan, minister responsible for MPI, said the government won't do that. "To do anything other than to continue the program would actually be a major waste of money and would also be a disservice to Manitobans who see this as an alternative (to buying a passport)," Swan said.

While there were start-up costs, he said, future expenses will be covered by the fees charged for the cards.

The U.S. government brought in stringent identification requirements for people wishing to travel to America after the 9/11 attacks.

At first, the United States was going to require all Canadians travelling south of the border to carry a passport, but later agreed to the cheaper identification card.

Swan said the ID card is important to cross-border travel.

Manitoba will begin to offer an enhanced ID driver's licence early in the new year that will allow residents to cross the U.S. border without having a passport.

Also in the new year, the province will move to a one-piece driver's licence that will be renewed every five years.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 24, 2009 A4

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47 Commentscomment icon

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For all the people saying I don't know how to read...

From my understanding (reading the article, and things I've heard prior), the new Enhanced ID Driver's Licenses were using the same technology (from the same $14-million starting cost) as these Non-License Enhanced IDs. Assuming this is the case, which everything I've read points to, how did I misread anything?

Why NOT use the same technology being used to bring our Driver's Licenses up to cross-border standards for those who do not drive or wish to get a license?

I have no plans to get one of the new Enhanced IDs. I already have a passport, so I already have an extra piece of ID to carry with me on trips. What I would LOVE is to not have to carry a second document around with me at all if I'm driving to the U.S., which this new Enhanced License will allow. One piece of ID, with all the information and security standards required, just like most of the rest of the developed world.

There is no point in buying a passport and an ID card. They are renewable in the same amount of time except the passport can be used for any travel.

So, the extra money for the passport is really just piece of mind in case I find a great airfare deal.

cptkirk: you pay $1700 more than elsewhere? I'm the same age as you and moved from BC and was quite please to see my rates come down (to about $1300) and included lots of extra coverage that wasn't included in the minimal coverage I had in BC. Most other provinces don't insist on having collision or comprehensive coverage so rates seem lower at first glance.

By the way people carrying a passport is a hassle compared to one of these new IDs because it doesn't fit in a wallet, even comparing the two things is like comparing a desktop computer to a laptop.

Why would anyone pay to have a card saying their from Manitoba, the shame. Anyways, raise autopac rates to cover this cost already!

Just another dumb NDP idea, lump it in with getting rid of the penny, spending an extra 1 billion dollars on a missplace hydro line, Get your minion to fire a Hydro consultant for speaking the truth, penalize Airlines for poor weather, Which will bump up the cost of flying for the public should I go on and on and on,? Elect double dippers!!!!
Oh yeah I guess Doers idea was that, Manitoba is more important than being a citizen of Canada, don't buy a passport, whoops you can only go to the US of A with this NDP creation!!!!
Guess whos paying for THIS abmination???????

The whole setup for these enhanced id's was made strictly for city dwellers. Being a hick from the sticks, I have to see my local Autopac agent and make an appointment to drive into Winnipeg and sit down for an interview before I'm approved. I've lived in Manitoba for the past 41+ years and at 62, have been a citizen of Canada since birth. Unfair treatment of rural residents. Had these been more easily obtained more would have been issued. For me they're ideal. I have no intention o fly stateside and when/if I do, I'll get me a passport.

I agree. That's why we got passports for us and our kids. Actually the kids passports were roughly the same cost as the id card.

You can use the passports for land, air and sea. Not so, with the id card.

Waste of money.

radicalkaren, these items are not just a one piece driver's license. The enhanced driver license includes a swipe card that is similar to the passport's and contains things like your citizenship etc.

That said, this is another one of MPI's baffle. End of the day who pays for it - Manitoba autopac customers. End of the day for Ontario is the entire province, which IMO is a better spread as anyone can get these enhanced drivers licenses, not just people who own and register costs.

There is a reason why our auto rates are ridiculously high. Don't believe MPI, unless you are under 25 and have multiple accidents you are WAY overpaying for your auto insurance, with most people probably paying $1000 over what you could in another province. And getting a second car on your policy - maybe another $600 - 800 in another province, not another $2500 here. Plus, you get the added benefit of having 20% off of your home insurance and 15% off your car insurance if you go through the same company. I estimate I'm paying more than $1700 per year more since I moved back to Manitoba, and I'm only 28 and had an at fault accident. Some one over 40 would be paying even less than me.

All that money straight into the pockets of the consulting company, EDS. MPI loves to pay EDS for all kinds of dreamt up projects under the umbrella of a business process review.

No one asked for these enhanced license cards, they were a total waste of time and money.

CJ...Get a drivers licence!! Photo ID problem solved..then it is easy to get the enhanced ID card not a hassle like some people think...go to any autopac agent fill out some forms and make an appointment to meet with someone at the enhanced ID place and that meeting takes 10 mins. Then wait for your card in the mail It's that easy.

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