An ‘OCTOBER7’ picture leads to an overhaul of Ontario’s updated licensing process

The release and subsequent cancellation of a controversial custom license plate in Ontario referencing Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel has prompted a complete review and overhaul of the province’s personalized license plate system, Global News has learned .

End of January 2024 ServiceOntario approved the release of a license plate with the words “October 7” on it, apparently referring to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

Within weeks, the license plate was revoked and an internal review was initiated. However, the province was unable to obtain the physical sign and images circulated occasionally on social media over the course of the year.

“The ministry has suspended the license plate and issued a return order,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public and Business Services and Procurement, which is responsible for ServiceOntario, told Global News.

“We urge the public to report any license plates so we can conduct a quick and thorough investigation.”

Every time someone in Ontario applies for a custom license plate, the application is considered by bureaucrats to ensure it is not offensive and does not violate certain rules.

Among the license plates blocked last year were sexual references such as 10NMINMAN, 23SWNGR and BIGSEXEE; references to law enforcement, including LOLCOPS; and references to politics or signatories such as LOLGRETA or THECROWN. License plates with religious references or words related to drugs and alcohol are also not allowed, nor are requests that involve violence or criminal activity.

Despite the strict rules about records, the October 7 record was briefly released.

Internally, the government launched an investigation into how the record had gone through the inspection process. An investigation has also been launched into how to prevent this from happening again.

A government source told Global News that the resulting review concluded that more people should be assigned to review each personalized license plate application to ensure a similar mistake is not repeated in the future.

They would not say how many people were previously present to review each application, and how many more were now doing the work, but confirmed that the internal review had shown the process needed to be strengthened with more attention.

When asked about the license plate on Friday, Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said it was unacceptable that the plate had not been returned and urged anyone who saw it to get in touch immediately.

“We’re looking into ways that we can figure out how to confiscate that license plate,” he said.

“It clearly does not reflect Canadian values, our values ​​as a government. People deserve to feel safe and not be taunted on the back of a license plate. If anyone ever sees that license plate on a car, call us right away.

Driving with a canceled license plate is illegal.

Sources also told Global News that some within the Ford government are considering the idea of ​​new legal measures that would force people with canceled custom license plates to return them – or risk a heavy financial penalty.

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