Service Ontario

[Shawn]

Service Ontario
http://www.ontario.ca/

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af306/shawnwm/ServiceOntarioJPG.jpg

Services for Residents

AboutMyProperty™ -- Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
Adoption
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Health Card Renewal
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Book an appointment to get your Enhanced Driver’s Licence or renew your Health Card
Ontario Gazette
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Online services

[Shawn]

I had the (un)fortunate luck of having to renew my DL (+photo), renew my Health Card (+photo) and get new license plate stickers for my car this month. A new Service Ontario office opened on Victoria Street (https://www.services.gov.on.ca/services/allLocations.do?action=details&id=11151&locale=EN) in the Swiss Chalet / Harvey's plaza, so I decided to check it out.

I have to admit, for a public service office, I was pleasantly surprised! The interior was fresh and new (but uninspired and drab in it's decoration and furniture) My entire experience took less than 15 minutes, including waiting in line. There were 3 Customer Service Agents, who all seemed friendly. Perhaps it helped that I had all my paperwork ready and completed when I arrived.

Add to the fact that you can also do many of the simple transactions at the Service Ontario ATM-style machines I'm pretty impressed.

[IEFBR14]

Add to the fact that you can also do many of the simple transactions at the Service Ontario ATM-style machines I'm pretty impressed.
You can also do a lot of stuff, that used to be done in person, over the Internet. This includes change of address and vehicle registration renewal stickers. I did my sticker renewal online a couple of weeks ago. It took 5 minutes and I had the sticker in less than a week. So much more convenient than going to a service center and queuing up.

[Spokes]

You can also do a lot of stuff, that used to be done in person, over the Internet. This includes change of address and vehicle registration renewal stickers. I did my sticker renewal online a couple of weeks ago. It took 5 minutes and I had the sticker in less than a week. So much more convenient than going to a service center and queuing up.

I had no idea you could do it online now, that's fantastic!

[Section ThirtyOne]

I had no idea you could do it online now, that's fantastic!

Ditto! I will definitely be renewing my stickers this way next year.

I recently had to take some plates back for the sticker credit (bought a new car), and I was in and out of the office in less than 15 minutes. Lately, it seems that the Ministry has done what is necessary to shake off the old stigma of a trip to the DMV.

[IEFBR14]

Once upon a time driver/vehicle license offices were privately run. The government of the day gave out franchises, often to party faithful, as a patronage reward. ISTR that this has changed recently and that now some offices are run by the government. My less than delightful experiences with D/V L offices have been with franchised outlets. I wonder if the new Victoria St office is a public or private endeavor and if that is any explanation for the glowing reports on it.

[Dagmar]

There's also a conveniently located Service Ontario location on Duke Street in downtown Kitchener. I haven't been but a coworker went off at lunch and came back with good reviews.

[Spokes]

There's also a conveniently located Service Ontario location on Duke Street in downtown Kitchener. I haven't been but a coworker went off at lunch and came back with good reviews.

That's the one I always go to, it's a great office, usually in and out quickly

[BuildingScout]

Once upon a time driver/vehicle license offices were privately run. The government of the day gave out franchises, often to party faithful, as a patronage reward. ISTR that this has changed recently and that now some offices are run by the government. My less than delightful experiences with D/V L offices have been with franchised outlets. I wonder if the new Victoria St office is a public or private endeavor and if that is any explanation for the glowing reports on it.

As far as I know they are still privately run. In my experience service was dismal during the Peterson and Rae governments. Service improved somethat during the Harris government in that max-wait times were implemented and offices were ordered to open longer hours as well as on Saturdays (before that they were 9-5 M-F).