MTO raises IRP fee; OTA asks for explanation

TORONTO, (Oct. 19, 2004) — The Ontario Trucking Association expected it would happen, and sure enough it did.

The trucking group is demanding that Ontario Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar explain the rationale for a $15 increase to the IRP administration fee. The hike, which became effective Oct. 1st, 2004, has been increased from $10 to $25.

The OTA said in a release that “it didn’t need a crystal ball” to foresee such increases, but the industry has been given no real time to adjust. The OTA is asking the MTO to justify the amount, as well as provide more specific information when long sought after service improvements such as an Internet IRP registration system would be introduced.

In a letter received by OTA, the minister states that “the new IRP fee is the first increase in administrative fees for Ontario carriers in 24 years.” And, while he acknowledges that a 150 per cent increase “seems substantial, (it) must be seen in its historical perspective … (and that) the introduction of IRP represented a substantial saving in administrative fees operating coast to coast.”

On the topic of Internet access to IRP services, Takhar says “the government plans to change and improve how public services are delivered … (realizing) that the public expects convenient, “no wrong door,” accessible, quality service delivery.” He says that MTO is “working closely with the (Ministry of Consumer and Business Services) MCBS to identify opportunities to improve service delivery, including providing electronic access to IRP.