The Community
Press
Ag ion t c e S INS
IDE
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115 Years of Telling YOUR Story
Volume 115 Issue 39
PLASTIC MOUNTAIN PLASTIC MOUNTAIN www.thecommunitypress.com
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 s
Recycling program a Recycling ‘surprisingprogram success’ a ‘surprising for Flagstaffsuccess’ Waste for Flagstaff Waste
Itʼs a mountain of plastic, as guess what, three tonnes of recyclable plastic were collected from depot bins throughout the Flagstaff region last Thursday, March 29, joining another two tonnes pulled out of regular household waste through the ʻLandfill harvestʼ program. See full story Page 25.
Sweeping changes by province for long-term GDL drivers Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Starting April 1, if a Class 5 or 6 (passenger vehicle or motorcycle) GDL driver is at least 18 years old, completed at least 24 months (two years) of probationary driving (by holding a Class 5 GDL), or 18 months with a qualified Class 5 or Class 6 driver training program, and suspension and demerit free for the past 12 months, they can simply apply to exit the GDL program. This can be done at their local Registries agent. By June 2023, the Province will have a system change in place that will automatically exit any eligible driver from the GDL program. Those deemed eligible will receive a letter from the
Government of Alberta in July 2023 indicating they have exited the GDL program. Even if someone is eligible to exit the GDL program but has not yet done so, the Province cautions, must adhere to all the restrictions on the GDL licence category. The regular Class 5 road test is now an enhanced road test and 45 minutes long, up from 30 minutes. Class 6 road tests will remain at 60 minutes. The Province says about 700,000 GDL drivers are currently qualified to take an advanced road test, and that half a million drivers will be eligible to automatically exit the GDL program with this change. A GDL Licence means that you must have no more passengers than seat
belts; you will be suspended if you accumulate eight or more demerit points; You must have a zero alcohol level when driving; You are not able to reclass your licence to a commercial driver's licence (classes 1, 2, 3 or 4); and, You cannot serve as an accompanying driver to a learner. Other recent changes to licencing occurred on Feb. 1. Class 1 drivers may now be tested in a truck with an automatic transmission, but will have a condition code added to their licence limiting them to vehicles with an automatic transmission. The code would be removed by taking a road test in a vehicle with a manual transmission. Drivers seeking a Class 4 operator’s licence, for an ambulance, small bus
(maximum 24 passengers), or taxi (or Uber), no longer need a road test, but a Class 4 knowledge test has been enhanced to include elements on passenger management and safety, as well as working with vulnerable populations. Class 4 drivers must still meet vision requirements and provide a driver medical report. Retroactively, drivers who have passed both their written and road tests for Class 4 but hadn’t updated their licences by Feb. 1 will have one year to do so. Drivers who have already written a Class 4 knowledge test, but had not done a road test prior to Feb. 1 will be required to pass the new enhanced Class 4 written test at their own expense in order to reclass their licences.