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McGuinty Government Acts On Advisory Panel Report
TORONTO, March 27 /CNW/ -
NEWS
Ontario is changing the way it reviews personalized licence plate
applications.
Guided by the recommendations
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/report-plp.pdf) of a volunteer
advisory panel, notable program changes include:
<<
- Allowing the use of religious titles on personalized plates
- Updating the review criteria to ensure that the entire meaning of a
plate is considered
- Adopting a more transparent application process and providing more
upfront information about the review criteria.
>>
The advisory panel was established last fall to review Ontario's
Personalized Licence Plate program and make recommendations on how the program
could be improved and modernized. Program changes will be in place later this
spring.
QUOTES
"I am grateful to the panel members who volunteered their time to review
the Personalized Licence Plate program. Balancing the right of personal
expression and community standards is no easy task. Thanks to the panel's
suggestions, the program will be more transparent and will give Ontarians more
flexibility when choosing a personalized plate."
- Jim Bradley, Minister of Transportation
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/minister.shtml).
<<
QUICK FACTS
- There were seven volunteers on the Personalized Licence Plate
Advisory Panel, including experts on human rights and religion and a
car enthusiast.
- Personalized licence plates can be purchased for use on most
passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and motorcycles.
- Ontario issues more than 25,000 personalized licence plates each
year.
LEARN MORE
Learn more about personalized licence plates and find out how to order
one (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/plates.shtml).
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BACKGROUNDER
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MORE ABOUT THE REVISED PERSONALIZED LICENCE PLATE PROGRAM
>>
In fall 2008, the Ministry of Transportation commissioned a panel review
of Ontario's Personalized Licence Plate program. The panel was asked to
provide suggestions on ways to improve the program and the criteria used to
screen personalized licence plate applications.
Based on these recommendations, the ministry plans to make changes to its
personalized licence plate application criteria such as:
<<
- Allowing the use of religious titles on personalized licence plates
- Ensuring a common sense approach to assessing personalized licence
plate applications, i.e., considering the meaning of the plate as a
whole, rather than focusing on individual words
- Considering new ways of using language - such as text-messaging
vernacular - when determining the meaning of a personalized licence
plate message.
Other changes include:
- Making more detailed information about the criteria used to assess
personalized licence plates available to assist applicants
- Grandfathering all existing personalized licence plates whenever
plates are renewed or replaced by the original licence plate holder.
- Allowing personalized licence plate holders to participate in the
review of their personalized plate if the ministry receives a
complaint about their plate after it has been issued.
- Ensuring that the members of the committee that reviews licence plate
applications are from more diverse backgrounds.
The new, updated Personalized Licence Plate program will be in force later
this spring.
Download the full report
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/report-plp.pdf).
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>>
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For further information: Nicole Lippa-Gasparro, Minister's Office, (416) 327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158
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