By Rosalind Russell – Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha tabled legislation earlier this week at Queen’s Park to amend the Highway Traffic Act in respect to the medical condition reporting process in Ontario.
He says last year, it was revealed Ontario’s reporting system was prone to arbitrarily suspending drivers’ licenses.
He adds in many cases individuals who visited a hospital later found out that a report had been submitted to the Ministry of Transportation, which led to the loss of their license adding some were not informed until weeks after it had taken affect.
He says in many cases healthcare professionals feel required to report patients who do not pose a risk because of the strict mandatory reporting requirements resulting in individuals being afraid to speak with their healthcare provider out of fear their license will be taken away.
Mantha adds his private members bill will amend the Highway Traffic Act to bring the sections related to reporting in line with other jurisdictions in Canada and if passed, the amendments would require a doctor to assess an individual’s fitness to drive, rather than just their symptoms when deciding to make a report.
Photo: Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha has introduced a private member’s bill to have the reporting system for drivers updated. Photo provided by Mike Mantha
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