Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I would like to say welcome back to everyone. Today one of our honourable colleagues had mentioned it's been 132 days since the House last sat, and it's been a lonely summer without being able to work closely with everyone, so I'm glad to see all the smiling faces again. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today is with regard to driver's licence renewal process.
Mr. Speaker, several constituents of mine have brought forward concerns about the dilemma where sometimes, inadvertently, I must stress, they allow their driver's licence to expire beyond the grace period. Mr. Speaker, the NWT driver's licence is designed to be issued for five years. The Department of Transportation, at one time, Mr. Speaker, used to send out notices as reminders to people out there that their licence would expire. As some of you may be or may not be aware, at present to renew your driver's licence it is a cost of $83.56. However, as I mentioned earlier about the grace period, if you allow your driver's licence to expire beyond that grace period, Mr. Speaker, you must start over the entire, complete process.
So what does that really mean to a regular person? Well, Mr. Speaker, that means you have to go out and take your learner's licence again. You have to do your driver's road test again just in order to qualify once again for your class 5 driver's licence, but at that point -- this is the real catcher here, Mr. Speaker -- is instead of $83.56 you are now paying $166.32, Mr. Speaker. So I think that's quite shameful that the cost basically doubles because you have forgotten to renew your licence.
Mr. Speaker, we have to be reminded that people rely on their driver's licence and acknowledge that a driver's licence truly is a privilege to have. Mr. Speaker, some people need their cars to drive their kids to school, people need to drive their cars so that they can go get their groceries, and let's not forget those people who drive for a living. I bet our most honourable Premier had to drive to work today because he doesn't live within walking distance from Prelude. So we have to recognize driving may be a privilege yet it is a necessity, especially here in the North.