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Quebec adding staff, hours to deal with lengthy automobile insurance board lines

MONTREAL — Quebec's transport minister says a number of measures will take effect as of Monday to deal with large lineups at the province's automobile insurance board after problems with a transition to an online platform.
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Quebec Deputy premier and Transport Minister Genevieve Guilbault announces the construction of three new electrical ferries for the province, in Quebec City, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. Quebec's transport minister says a number of measures will be taken starting Monday to deal with large lineups at the province's automobile insurance board after problems with a transition to an online platform. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MONTREAL — Quebec's transport minister says a number of measures will take effect as of Monday to deal with large lineups at the province's automobile insurance board after problems with a transition to an online platform.

Geneviève Guilbault says the new measures will include the gradual addition of 150 more staff in higher traffic branches, longer operating hours and daily capacity at branches posted online.

Guilbault issued a tweet saying Quebecers should not have to wait for hours outside -- as has been the case this week -- and a better quality of service should be offered.

On Friday, Premier François Legault denounced the "unacceptable" situation at the board, known as the SAAQ, and demanded it be corrected.

The auto insurance board has been dealing with lengthy lineups at some of its outlets since introducing a new online portal on Feb. 20 which users have had trouble accessing due to an authentication issue.

The site was expected to make certain transactions more efficient, including renewing licences, paying registration and booking exams.

The board says since the day the platform came online, 335,000 clients have been served with 103,000 having used the online service.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2023.

The Canadian Press

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