As I was preparing to leave for The Philippines I stopped by to ICBC in Burnaby BC, in order to get my drivers licence renewed as it was going to expire in 8 months.  I asked if I could renewl the licence and the woman I was dealing with, and I so wish I got her name now, explained to me, due to the fact I was leaving the country, and they would not renew the licence.  I asked why, and her explanation to me was they were trying to crack down on people using multiple names from getting into the system, and that this was fraud.  That is nice, what does that have to do with me?  She further explained to me that is was ICBC policy and there was nothing she would do.  I tried explaining that this was crazy.  This is Canada, and we are innocent until proven guilty, how can you restrict or punish me without me being proved of wrong doing.  She shrugged and said this was the policy.  I further explained that me being out of the country, I need the picture ID for a back up in the unlikely event my passport was stolen, and I needed to prove myself at one of our Embasyees.  She was not concerned.

So naturally, I wrote to ICBC to ask for an explanation, and much to my disbelief, the response was simply to contact ICBC during normal working hours, and they will help me get a licence.  I was amazed since I said I was writing from The Philippines, and there was no way I would be able to get it renewed, and I was sparing myself someone telling me to come in to and ICBC office in order to get assitance.

When did Canada become a nation that punished their people before them being proven gulity of something.  Come on ICBC, I am looking forward to the response from my latest email.