By Stephanie Froese

SGI extends to north Sask in time for election

Nov 3, 2011 | 11:50 AM

Anyone who has taken part in advance polls or has ever voted knows a photo driver’s license is the easiest ID that can be used to cast a ballot.

That’s now a whole lot easier for North Saskatchewan residents.

Just more than a month ago, Scott’s General Store in Stony Rapids became motor licence issuer, complete with photo taking capabilities and license plate renewals.

Previously, the closest SGI issuer to people in the far north was in La Ronge, 665 kilometres away from Stony Rapids.

“That’s not very close at all. In the summer time that would be a 12 hour drive with anyone who wouldn’t want to wreck their vehicle too bad,” said Glenn Koivisivo, with Scott’s General Store.

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He said quite a few people have called him wanting the photo IDs to make it easier for them to vote.

“They’ve been enquiring about it, what they need to bring in, so that I can issue one which would be a birth certificate and another piece of ID,” Koivisivo said.

The store doesn’t really have any signs up yet so people are still learning that that the service is there, he said.

But, Koivisivo said he estimates 40 people have come in so far.

The photo license capabilities are just in time for a regulation change. Historically northern residents did not require a photo with their license. At the end of this year that exemption will no longer be in place.

Koivisto said he expects more people will need their service when that happens.

“I’m ready for that. I’ve got all the setup for it. I expect that when they need, when it goes through the SGI computer here, it will tell me if they need a photo and if they need it I’m ready to take it,” he said.

“A lot of them don’t go south very much so … for sure it will be a lot handier for them to do it here.”

The Stony Rapids shop doesn’t do testing, but a representative of SGI said testers are periodically flown to Northern Saskatchewan communities for that service.

Those wanting to be tested can call 1-800-667-5105 to find out when the next series can be tested.

sfroese@panow.com