What’s New: In Brief (October 26, 2009)

About 1,600 collisions with wildlife are reported to Manitoba Public Insurance each November.
This makes November the worst month for wildlife-related collisions, followed closely by October, which sees an average of 1,300 collisions with wildlife reported.
More than 10,000 wildlife claims are reported annually.
MPI paid out Cdn$28.9 million for claims related to wildlife collisions last year.
October and November is mating season for deer, which results in increased travel by animals, MPI notes by way of explanation for the high number of collisions during October and November.
Historically, Brandon-Westman, Steinbach, Dauphin and Lac du Bonnet regions have experienced higher than normal wildlife claims. However, an average of 350 wildlife claims are reported annually within the perimeter of Winnipeg.

Saskatchewan will move to a one-part, five-year driver’s licence and identification card beginning in 2011.
It will replace the existing two-part licence, a photo identification card and paper certificate, first implemented in 2001.
Customers can choose to pay Cdn$100 for the licence at the time of renewal, saving Cdn$25 from the cost to renew the existing two-part licence for the same five-year period.
Alternatively, they can opt to pay Cdn$25 per year for five years, for a total cost of Cdn$125.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, customers will receive their new one-part licence when they renew their expired two-part licence.
In the implementation year, drivers will receive their licence with renewal terms ranging from one to five years based on the expiry year on their current photo ID card.
Licence fees will be pro-rated based on the length of the term. Every subsequent renewal, however, will be for a five-year term.