ServiceOntario is part of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery which provides a single point of contact for core provincial government services to individuals and businesses in the province of Ontario, Canada. Established in 2006 from the existing network of Driver and Vehicle License Issuing Offices, ServiceOntario provides services primarily online and in-person at storefront locations, and also operates telephone call centres.[1]
 A ServiceOntario location in Markham | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2006[1] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Website | www |
Some services were also formerly provided by automated ServiceOntario self-service kiosks located primarily in shopping malls.[1] Following the discovery in 2012 that illegal card skimming devices were installed on some kiosks in the Greater Toronto Area, all kiosks were shut down province-wide for security reasons.[2] The provincial government permanently discontinued the kiosks later that year.[3]
Some ServiceOntario locations are operated by private businesses under contract to the government.[4][5]
Services
The following are some of the services delivered by ServiceOntario on behalf of the government:
- Ontario Health Insurance Plan registration and health card renewals
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Driver and vehicle licensing (except driver testing and related transactions, which are generally delivered by separate DriveTest centres operated under contract by Serco)
- Business registration
- Fishing and hunting licence
- Ontario Photo Card
- Address change
- Newborn registration
- Ontario government publications
- Landlord Tenant Board services
- Commissioner of Oaths services
Staples Canada
In 2024, some ServiceOntario locations will be closed and replaced with kiosks inside Staples Canada.[6] These stores will be compensated with taxpayer money for upgrades required to provide these services, at an estimated cost of 1.75 million dollars.[7] The Ontario New Democratic Party has criticized the Ford government for this decision.[8] A request was made to the Financial Accountability Office by the Liberal Party in regards to the deal.[9] These kiosks are a pilot project intended to reduce wait times and increase availability of services, with further partnerships with other businesses being investigated.[10] Two Walmart stores will also replace standalone ServiceOntario locations.[11] Ford has compared the situation to how some Canada Post offices operate inside Shopper's Drug Mart locations.[7]
See also
References
External links
