By Conner Toffan

Driver examiners in Alberta threatening walkout

Jan 9, 2019 | 4:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT– Last year, it was announced that as of March 1, the government will take control of driver examinations from the private sector.

In response, many driver examiners under the Certified Drivers Examiners Association (CDEA) have threatened to walkout and stop working, starting Thursday and lasting for a planned two weeks.

“At the end of business day if we do not hear from the government then many examiners in the providence will cease to work,” said CDEA Executive Director Pete Llewellyn, who also believes that about 70-80 per cent of the 146 examiners would participate in the walkout.

“As a business we no longer exist,” said Llewellyn.

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For the CDEA, it comes down to compensation.

“What we’re trying to do is get the government to realize that we are businesses and that we need to be compensated. At this particular point the governments’ point of view is that ‘we’re not gonna compensate you’,” said Llewellyn.

In a written statement from the office of the Alberta Minister of Transportation Brian Mason, the government says that “While we will continue with our hiring process, already over 60% of the Certified Driver Examiner Association membership has been offered employment with the Government.”

They also believe that the compensation is fair “Albertans should also be aware that driver examiners here will be compensated at a higher rate than examiners in any other province.”

The CDEA does not believe that the compensation is enough.

“Even though as examiners we’re limited companies, we pay corporate taxes to the provincial government and the federal government. we do all that for many years and then all of the sudden the government comes along and says ‘well you know what, if we give you a job, that should compensate for your business. Well, we don’t believe that by offering us a job at half to one-thirds of the salary that we were making, is a compensation,” said Llewellyn

After the CDEA reached out to chartered accountants, commercial real-estate agents and an organization that analyzes businesses. The conclusion for Llewellyn is that “they all generally have a rule that’s three to five years of your net income.”

“Changes to the driver model will improve safety on Alberta roads while providing improved services for people at a reduced cost,” said the statement.

As for the delays, Llewellyn says that “upwards of 800 people will probably not be able to get a test in the next couple weeks.”

The government on the other hand, believes that “any disruptions in service will be minimal.”