ICBC Now Under New Ministry

Friday, April 24, 2009 04:47 PM

Prince George, B.C. - The Ministry of the Solicitor General and Public Safety is no longer responsible for ICBC or the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.

The two are now under the umbrella of the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services. The shift comes after Solicitor General John Van Dongen had his driver's license pulled for having too many speeding tickets.

Van Dongen released the following statement:

“I recently received a letter from the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (OSMV) giving notice of a driving prohibition due to tickets I have received for speeding.

“As soon as I received the letter, I acted immediately and accepted the temporary prohibition. I will not be appealing the decision and have mailed my driver’s license to the OSMV. I fully understand and accept responsibility for my driving behaviour and believe it is my duty to fully and completely comply with the decision.

“I have asked the Premier to re-assign responsibility for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and OSMV to another minister. While I am not currently involved in any active decisions as Minister with respect to these agencies, I feel it is important that both my actions and this latest decision do not have any detrimental impact on public confidence in either ICBC or OSMV.

“I fully recognize the importance of public safety and compliance with the law on our roads. The law applies equally to me as it does to everyone else and I strongly support that.”

ICBC provides driver licensing, vehicle insurance and vehicle registration, and promotes road safety in B.C.. The superintendent establishes and maintains standards for driving behaviour and medical fitness.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 04:47 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: Loki on April 24 2009 5:34 PM

The person in the office above the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles has so many speeding tickets his license is pulled. He should be fired on the spot. regardless of his compliance with the letter, he broke the law repeatably prior to the letter.

If he recognizes public safety and compliance with the law on our roads, why did he receive enough tickets to have his license pulled?

So now our provincial government has to rearrange ministries to accommodate this? This will cost millions and the repercussions will be extensive. He may have just lost the entire election for the liberals. Boneheaded move!

Posted by: RUEZ on April 24 2009 5:40 PM

Wow. Gotta love the Liberals.

Posted by: BCRacer on April 24 2009 5:43 PM

Hey Campbell was charged with impared and he didn't resign or get fired either. Worse not only did he seem to have contempt for our laws but also the laws of another country.
I have my suspicions that had it been anyone else they would have been asked, none too nicely, to resign.

Posted by: Denaljo on April 24 2009 6:19 PM

Only in BC you say! Pity.

Posted by: Moosinator on April 24 2009 6:48 PM

FYI, under current legislation it only takes 3 speeding tickets in a 12 month period to get a 3 month prohibition. One ticket if the charge is for Excessive speeding or driving without due care and consideration.

Posted by: lmorge on April 24 2009 7:04 PM

It simply shows that he is not above the law. If he pays his fines and complies with the prohibition, I don't see any reason why he should loose his job unless having a driver's license is a condition of his employment.

After the election, he may not have a job anyway!

Posted by: Palopu on April 24 2009 7:10 PM

He had two (2) tickets for excessive speeding over an 18 month period.

This is the famous Catch 22. If he has his staff ignore the tickets, and is found out later, he is in deep doggy doo. If he has his staff process the tickets in the normal manner, then he is in deep doggy doo.

He broke the law, and now has to pay the price. I am a little suprised that the tickets were issued in the first place. I would have thought that he would have gotten a warning. Maybe most people do not know who he is.

Posted by: Lamb on April 24 2009 7:55 PM

I witnessed speeding on 15h Avenue the other day. It wasn't pretty to watch. The car was weaving in and out of the two lanes between Carney and Victoria. It was passing driver's doing the speed limit and cutting in front of them. The driver displayed disregard for the safety of all who were on the road. I think speeding means contempt for fellow drivers and endangers their safety.
This isn't a political issue it is a public safety issue. This man needs to be gone, gone, gone period.

Posted by: skabowl1 on April 24 2009 8:20 PM

There is a vast difference between speeding and the kind of action that Lamb observed. Speeding is only one symptom of the contempt shown for other drivers. The aggressive driving is clearly the worst sign of contempt and is also the most dangerous.

When the speed cameras were taken away and more emphasis placed on intersection enforcement, the rate of auto related injuries and deaths fell.

I should mention that I have been in both the speeding camps, for years I used to get a ticket a year. I have not recieved one for years now. Of course, when I got the tickets they were all on the highways driving the vast reaches of the interior of this great province. For the last several years I have lived in the lotus land of the lower mainland. Hmmmmmm I wonder if there is any correlation? :-)

Posted by: Truth on April 24 2009 8:59 PM

I received a warning letter after 2 speeding tickets. That was years ago, and I have changed driving habits. Only a real reckless individual will not change. Someone like that is unfit for Cabinet.

As for Gordon Campbell, he is a convicted Felon in the US. He would not qualify for gun ownership, and would have to disclose the conviction wherever he sought employment in a position of trust.

The Felon can be seen laughing from 2 seperate angles in his mugshots. What if he had passed out from intoxification and went over the centre line? What if he struck a family car head on? His cop pals like to refer to their targets - usually innocent - as "scumbags." So what do they think of the Felon?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e1/Gordon_campbell_arrested_dui.jpg/200px-Gordon_campbell_arrested_dui.jpg

Posted by: Palopu on April 24 2009 9:10 PM

Lets forget about Campbells DUI.

If every person who has driven in British Columbia with a blood alcohol rating of .08 or over would arrest themselves and turn themselves into the police, there would be one hell of a lot less drivers on the roads.

Some people think that driving over .08 is only a crime if you are caught and convicted. Wrong. It is a crime whether you are caught or not.

For every person caught there are thousands that are not. Driving stupid should also be a crime.

Posted by: ammonra on April 24 2009 10:05 PM

"Lets forget about Campbells DUI."

Why?

Posted by: IAM on April 25 2009 2:13 AM

From what I have heard, many folks like Minister Van Dongen, and find him to be a genuinely nice man. I don't have tons of concerns about his speeding, losing his licence and paying fines. "Old Led Foot" sounds reasonable enough to be transparent in this area. He sped, he got caught, he appeared to have misplaced his "I'm above the law card".
However, what he does not appear to be transparent about is the "true consequences". He, and his liberal leaders are NOT absorbing the consequences. We, the tax payer, are down wind, yet again!!!
Perhaps I missed something, but a shift of two large organizations, to a completely different ministry, is not cost free. I would like to know exactly what the financial repercussions are to all of us living in BC, so that one individual can keep his position.
Having ICBC and the Office of Superintendent of Motor Vehicles shifted to a different ministry apears impulsive, and quite expensive. During this time of fiscal conservativism, I find this move to be incredibly self serving at the expense of the average citizen.
Once again, I don't have an issue with speeding or the numerous tickets. However, I have a tremendous issue with any government that deems it acceptable to reach into my pocket, grab my money, and then continue to do the same with all my neighbors because one man wants to keep his title.

It appears that the more obvious the corruption, the bolder the scam. Sad!

Posted by: jonnypg on April 25 2009 4:11 AM

For a minute there, I thought this was a april's fool!

Posted by: BCRacer on April 25 2009 7:50 AM

Lets forget about Campbells DUI.

N E V E R !

Posted by: diplomat on April 25 2009 8:10 AM

""Lets forget about Campbells DUI."

Why?"

Why not?

It's over. He took full responsibility, he paid the fine, he apologized, he learned a lesson, he was re-elected and Palopu's comments are right on the button.

Two NDP premiers had to resign. Why? Who cares, it is history now as far as most people are concerned. They also like to think they have been forgiven and they have moved on with their lives.

Posted by: ammonra on April 25 2009 8:38 AM

Yet you start many of your posts with, "I will never forget", or "Remember the" or something similar.

Why two standards?

Posted by: Truth on April 25 2009 9:00 AM

Forgive Campbell? An NDP candidate was pressured to resign because a photo of him groping a consenting young lady was posted on the internet. The people in opposing traffic didn't consent to CONVICT-CAMPBELL's reckless driving. And they wouldn't like to see him laughing on his mugshot.

I know of no precedent where Ministry duties were altered to accomodate a law-breaker.

Hmmm...wait a minute! When Socred Cabinest Minister, Robert Sommer, was suing media people for libel after they accused him of taking a bribe from Mac-Blo, WAC Bennett altered Ministerial responsibilities to accomodate the legal action. Said suit delayed justice for 3 years. However, Sommer was jailed eventually.

Posted by: diplomat on April 25 2009 9:55 AM

Ammonra: Yet you start many of your posts with, "I will never forget", or "Remember the" or something similar. Why two standards?"

Find some! Let me know. Obviously I don't delight as much in the personal failures and misfortunes of people as you do. And it doesn't matter to me who you hate.

Remember, you are the one who asked the question "Why?"

You didn't like the answer. Predictable response: personal attack.

Posted by: REALIST on April 25 2009 9:55 AM

Just think about what this is going to cost us the taxpayers of British Columbia. All of the letterheads and signage that identify ICBC as being under one Ministry will have to be switched to a new Ministry. Those who were trained in the day to day oporations of ICBC within the Ministry of the Solisiter Generals office will either have to be moved physically into their new offices or be replaced with those who are not familiar with ICBC. All this cost just to protect yet another BC Lieberal who has broken the law. Yes, he should be fired but Campbell's Lieberals would rather screw the taxpayer than admit they were wrong. How could any thinking human being ever vote for these guys? The only ones who should ever vote for Campbell and his "CREW" are those who's pockets he has lined. For the love of your children, PLEASE WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!

Posted by: diplomat on April 25 2009 10:21 AM

[urlhttp://www.famousquotesandauthors.com/authors/tommy_douglas_quotes.html[/url]

Of particular significance is the second quote from Mr. Tommy Douglas.

So long, it's been fun.

Posted by: diplomat on April 25 2009 10:23 AM

http://www.famousquotesandauthors.com/authors/tommy_douglas_quotes.html

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 25 2009 10:43 AM

In 2003 Van Dongen was nailed for tipping off Stolts Fish farms about an ongoing government investigation.
Look it up,it is common knowledge.
This is considered an unforgivable gaff for a house member in most governments, and it just isn't done.
But with the Campbell government,it is obviously tolerated.
After mothballing him for a couple of years,Campbell then dug him up and made him Solicitor General.
That shocked a lot of people who figured his career was over.
What does that say about Gordon Campbell?
So when it comes to Van Dongens integrity and honesty and respect for the rules,,none of this should suprise anyone.
After screwing up in two different posts,he should commit hari-kari and gut himself.
Actually,if Campbell had any integrity he would do it himself,but that is a whole 'nother story, as we all know.

Posted by: frankgeorgeson on April 26 2009 2:26 AM

do we hve a new flying Phil? Now there was a caracter!

get over it people.

frank

Posted by: diplomat on April 26 2009 6:27 AM

AF, Moe Sihota had to step down not only once, but at least twice.

Phil Gaglardi was pulled over driving his Caddy way over the speed limit. He wasn't paying attention because he was actually on the passenger side looking for something in the glove compartment...at that time he was the minister of highways!

Nobody asked him or the Premier to resign...it was just way too funny!

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 26 2009 7:28 AM

No argument here diplomat!
Now whatever happened to Moe Sihota I wonder?
And Garlardi was hoot..always in the news it seemed.
He became such as well known B.C."character" that he could get away with almost anything and people would laugh about it,myself included!
Maybe we were less cynical back then?
I think my point is that there is more to this story on Van Dongen than meets the eye.
And I wonder how much it cost the taxpayers for the govenment to switch ministries for ICBC?
I also wonder why he would be brought back into cabinet after being considered an "untouchable" after the fish farm issue?
It would seem that Campbell put himself in a very dicey position by failing to resign himself after the Hawaii incident.
He is the leader and if he makes exceptions for himself,he almost has to make them for all of his ministers.
All that leads to is the Liberals getting a bad rap in general for the behavior of a few.
Everyone ends up tarred with the same brush.

Posted by: diplomat on April 26 2009 8:11 AM

AF:"It would seem that Campbell put himself in a very dicey position by failing to resign himself after the Hawaii incident."

Since I apply the same standard to every leader I share your opinion that he should have resigned. However, he decided not to resign and by re-electing him and his party the majority of the voters expressed their opinion that he made the right choice. He actually let the voters make the final decision.

Why keep harping on it forever, except for political haymaking? That's my opinion and I have just as much the right to express it here as Frank, who says: "get over it people" and others who think otherwise.

"Maybe we were less cynical back then?"

Yes, definitely!

Posted by: thereasonableman on April 26 2009 10:20 AM

I don't think the changes were necessary. He lost his licence, he mailed it in. If he rides out his suspension like everybody else, he gets it back and goes driving again.

I think all the changes were overkill to pacify people who are overly hypersensitive to conflict of interest issues.

This would have only been necessary if he was disputing the suspension. As long as he's taking his lumps like the next guy, I don't think anybody believes that the Minister in charge has a great deal to do with the everyday functioning of ICBC or any others.

Posted by: metalman on April 27 2009 9:31 AM

If we the taxpayers have to pay the cost (you know there are costs) of switching the responsibility for ic-BS so that V.dong can keep his job, would it not be cheaper to sack him? Or give him four months off without pay or golden pension contributions (time served for not setting a good example ) Another example of government waste, hypocrisy, and inefficiency; Oops, a whole lot of oxymorons there.
metalman.

Posted by: Loki on April 27 2009 10:49 AM

my point is that he is the head of this organization and should be leading by example. If he is unable abide by the laws enforced by his own ministry, he should be removed from that office. Not to mention the ministry having to be moved because the head of said ministry broke its own laws.

The other political leaders with driving infractions do not have such a vested interest.

This would be like an RCMP officer robbing and or assaulting someone while off duty then getting away with it.

Oh yeah, that has happened.

Posted by: thereasonableman on April 27 2009 2:21 PM

I think his resignation was overkill, and only happened because there is an election.

I have to wonder about the timing of the driver's licence suspension, though.

Did this coincidentally happen just before an election, or was it engineered that way ?

Is there more to this story ?