Forced to close, private driving instructor decries double standard as provincial classes carry on

WINNIPEG – A Manitoba driving instructor is frustrated he can’t operate his business because health orders restrict him from having one person in his car from a separate household.

Meanwhile, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) continues to be allowed to conduct road tests, which requires two people from separate households in one car.

“So, driving schools were forced to shut down temporarily due to code red, right, and road tests were still running,” said Rav Phangureh, owner of Rapid Driving School.

Phangureh says he isn’t upset with MPI. If anything, he says their ability to safely have two people in a car by following PPE guidelines is a clear indicator that he and others in his profession can do the same thing.

“Provincially-run programs can have two people in a car and [private] driving instructors, we can not,” he said. “We take precautionary safety measures, we pre-screen students, we sanitize our car before and after each lesson, wear facemasks, provide hand sanitizers.”

The driving instructor says many people who want a license don’t own vehicles and without instructors, they cant practise driving skills and are less likely to pass a road test if they book one.

Phangureh has contacted his local MLA, Dr. Brent Roussin, and Engage MB about what he feels is a double standard. However, he says he can’t get a straight answer back.

“We only see four to five different people a day, that’s it! It’s a low risk, very low risk, so we’re asking for answers,” he said. “We’re just not getting those answers.”

The Manitoba Public Insurance acknowledged the apparent double standard.

“MPI is certainly aware of the frustrations by the instructors and the owners of these private driving companies, absolutely,” said Brian Smiley with MPI. “But they are really in no different situation than people who own restaurants who are forced to close, not allowed to bring customers in.”

Smiley says MPI has suspended in-car training for high school students but is still administrating road tests for class one to six licenses under provincial directive as an essential service.

“Again, it’s as per public health orders,” he said. “It’s not MPI’s position to debate those orders, it’s our position to fulfill those orders.”

As for Phangureh, he says all he can do is hope the guidelines change in the next month or two, allowing him to return to work and earn a living.

“For now, we’re waiting for Feb. 12 when the code red restrictions are ready to expire.”