Photo courtesy www.toewsforalberta.ca

By Erika Rolling

Politics

MLA Toews overjoyed with GDL program being scrapped

Sep 27, 2022 | 12:03 PM

On Tuesday, September 27, the Alberta government announced it will be scrapping the graduated driver’s license program that has been in effect since 2003.

Starting in the spring of 2023, Alberta will no longer require the advanced road test for Class 5 and Class 6 Graduated Driver’s Licences.

Road tests will also no longer be mandatory to obtain a Class 4 driver’s license; required to transport passengers in taxis, ride-share vehicles, limousines, small buses, and ambulances.

Minister of Transportation Prasad Panda says it’s a way of cutting red tape and saving drivers from spending unnecessary dollars.

Half a million Albertans that have no suspensions or traffic violations within their last 12 months of probation, including zero tolerance for any alcohol and/or drug consumption will automatically become eligible to exit the GDL program come 2023.

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UCP leadership hopeful and former Minister of Finance, Travis Toews heard of the news on Tuesday morning and was overjoyed.

“In my leadership platform, I’ve pitched scrapping the GDL program. Right now we’ve got half a million young Albertans that are still driving with their GDL… clearly, it’s not providing any safety benefit on the road.”

“What it does do is require an additional $150 from every one of those young Albertans to do their final test,” Toews notes.

He adds he is more than pleased with the announcement from his colleague Minister of Transportation, Prasad Panda and if he is to become premier he stands by the decision made by the province.