VANCOUVER (April 26) — British Columbia is shutting the door to motorists suspended from driving in Alberta who attempt to obtain a B.C. driver’s licence.

Alberta drivers tagged as “suspended” or “hold” through the Interprovincial Record Exchange system will be referred back to Alberta, where the issue of their suspension must be resolved with Alberta authorities, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) said. ICBC oversees driver licensing in the province.

Only when B.C. has clear proof that an Alberta driver is no longer suspended will it consider their application for a B.C. driver’s licence.

Currently, Alberta will not issue a driver’s licence to an applicant who is under either a suspension or prohibition in B.C.. B.C. is reciprocating by recognizing administrative driver licence suspensions imposed on Alberta drivers who then apply for a B.C. driver’s licence. Until now, only drivers with a motor vehicle-related criminal code conviction were not permitted to apply for a B.C. licence.