QUEEN’S PARK, Ont. — As the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) strike continues, no International Registration Plan (IRP) registration services will be available.

For vehicles that are currently registered under IRP, a regulation has been passed that extends the validation beyond the Mar. 31 date until further notice.

According to the Ontario Trucking Association, truckers travelling through other IRP member jurisdictions may use one of the following options:

1. Your PRP Plates with cab card that expires – March 31, 2002;

2. Obtain regular commercial series plates and permit with validation sticker that expires in June.

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) is currently conducting a survey of IRP jurisdictions to determine which are in agreement with these proposals.

At the same time, road maintenance is set to continue during labor disruption according to the province.

The MTO will make every effort to ensure roads are cleared quickly, although the provision of services may take longer during the OPSEU strike. MTO reminds all motorists and truckers to take their time, be well prepared for winter driving, and always drive according to conditions.

Private contractors, hired by the ministry, perform winter maintenance services. Depending on location, road patrolling will continue to be performed by private contractors or by emergency service workers under an essential services agreement reached between Management Board Secretariat and OPSEU.

The ministry’s main ROAD INFO phone numbers are not available during the strike. However, local road information services (i.e., road closures and condition reports) will continue to be provided on a limited basis at the usual REGIONAL numbers, as follows:

— Greater Toronto Area: 800-268-4686 and 416-235-4686;
— Windsor, London, Kitchener, Barrie and Owen Sound areas: 800-265-5407
— North Bay, Sudbury, New Liskeard, Cochrane, Hearst areas: 800-461-9523
— Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie areas: 800-465-5032;
— Peterborough, Kingston and Ottawa areas: 877-401-8777.