Quebec shuts down six provincial driving schools

Quebec’s auto insurer, the Societe de l’assurance automobile du Quebec (SAAQ), has suspended the licenses of six of the province’s driving schools, following reports that the schools were selling certificates to students who weren’t attending the lessons, according to CTV News.
Driving lessons have been mandatory in Quebec since January 2010. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 24 hours of theory classes and 15 hours of supervised driving over a year of lessons, CTV reports.
The SAAQ shut down the Qazi driving school, the Hope driving school in Montreal, the Hope driving school in Brossard, the Capital driving school, the J.R.V. driving school and the Winner Sorin driving school in Longueuil.
The license suspensions followed a story in the Journal de Montreal, which reported that an undercover reporter went to the Hope school in Montreal and was told he could obtain a completion certificate for $400. The certificate would have allowed him to pursue a driving test.
The story said three other schools offered to provide completion certificates for between $300 and $500. Two schools said they could provide the reporter with shorter classes.
CTV noted that the owner of the Hope driving schools strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Shortly after the story broke, Quebec transport minister Pierre Moreau issued a strongly-worded press release. “It’s unacceptable that these businesses abuse the trust of the government, a government agency and a public organization, acting in a way to fool the public and commit fraud,” he said. “The situation is unacceptable and must be dealt with right away.
“Driver conduct is behind 80% of road accidents. New drivers must have the ability to become safe, responsible and able drivers.”