TORONTO, (Aug. 22, 2003) — The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has announced it will still ensure a limited number of oversize/overweight permits for high priority moves, but because of the continuing power crisis in Southern Ontario, the temporary system put in place is close to breaking down.

The Ontario Trucking Association is urging carriers to submit permit requests for essential movements only. The government has been overwhelmed with permit requests — many of them for non-essential movements — and has indicated all permit issuing will stop if the system breaks down.

In related news, the MTO is giving a break to truckers who have not been able to renew plates and drivers’ licences due to the blackout. While there’s been some reports that drivers are still receiving tickets for expired licences and other vehicle documents, the MTO is asking enforcement officials to adhere to a government notice instructing them “to use discretion regarding the issuance of tickets for expired plates and drivers licences.”

Meanwhile, the OTA also announced that, due to the electricity crisis, all IRP Offices except for the IRP Program Office in Downsview, Ont. continue to be closed until further notice. The office is open in an effort to provide emergency IRP services such as initial IRP registration for new fleets, additions to existing fleets, and plate, permit and cab card replacements The office can be reached at: 416-235-4328.