Ontario to temporarily stop issuing problematic licence plates

The Ontario government will stop distributing the newly redesigned licence plates after issues with their visibility came to light last week.

As of March 5, Service Ontario centres will only be issuing the previous used white-embossed plates, until the new ones are fixed.

In a statement, the province said a solution is now being implemented with the manufacturer 3M Canada to fix the licence plates. Manufacturing on the new enhanced ones are expected to begin in two weeks.

Consumer Services Minister Lisa Thompson said last Wednesday the government has asked 3M to investigate numerous reports that started to surface over the weekend saying the plates are nearly unreadable in the dark.

A number of groups have to expressed concern about the impact the problem could have on public safety. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police has said it has been hearing from front-line officers and concerned citizens about the possible defect.

The Progressive Conservatives revealed the new plates in the 2019 budget, saying the government spent $500,000 on a consultation on branding, but had a new contract for licence plate production that saved $4 million.

For Ontarians who have already had their licence plate replaced with the new blue-embossed one, they will be contacted by mail with instructions on how to replace their current plates with the new enhanced ones.

The government said they will be available starting on March 16. As of Feb. 26, 71,000 blue plates had been issued.

Thompson said they reached a solution to this matter at “no cost to Ontario taxpayers.”

3M Canada said they will be providing material, specifically reflective sheeting, used on the enhanced plates to the province so it can be tested by law enforcement and key stakeholders.

“3M stands behind our products and has successfully partnered with other provinces to supply licence plate materials for many years,” read a statement from 3M Canada.

With files from the Canadian Press