Thousands of Quebec bikers converge on premier's office to protest fees - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Boulevard Billy · 05-21-2006, 10:34 PM

MONTREAL (CP) - Thousands of Quebec bikers braved the rain Sunday to protest a planned hike in motorcycle licensing fees in the province.

An estimated 20,000 motorcycle enthusiasts tied up traffic for hours in the downtown core, where they rallied in front of the Montreal office of Premier Jean Charest.

"It's not fair," one biker told media ahead of the rally.

The provincial insurance agency is poised to raise the current $253 registration fee to $430 next year for most motorcycles or as high as $957 for some sport models.

Registration and licensing fees are going up across the board but bikers say quadrupling the fees for sport bikes is outrageous.

The provincial agency says it has a $500 million annual deficit and without increases, won't have the funds to pay for car accident injuries.

Expenses at the agency have outstripped revenues since 1982, say agency officials, and the proposed increases would put an extra $300 million into the agency's coffers in 2007 and 2008.

"It's been a long time since (fees) have gone up so we were waiting for them to go up," another biker told reporters.

But with such huge increases, "what's going to happen is people won't have licence plates on their motorbikes and they're going to go out anyway."

Similar protests were planned for Quebec City, Val d'Or, Rimouski, Alma and Sept-Iles, Que.

There are 141,000 motorcycles registered in Quebec.

The agency has submitted its proposals to an outside committee of experts who will conduct public hearings on the hikes.

The committee is expected to report back by June 19.

You have got to be kidding! I'd vow to separate at $252 but $430? Why so much? I can tolerate the cost of insurance compared to the Americans but $430 for a license plate. I hope the Ontario government doesn't hear about this and get any ideas. What's the deal here Louis? Will you have any money left to feed the wife & kids?