ServiceOntario Kiosks Permanently Closed: Protect Canadians & Save $Millions

This is an update to my previous blog Ontario Government Services Alert: ServiceOntario Kiosks Temporarily Shut Down.

The Ontario Ministry of Government Services announces today that all 72 ServiceOntario Kiosks are permanently closed for the following reasons:

• To help protect Ontarians’ financial information
  • In June 2012, there were potential debit and credit card skimming activities at kiosks in the Toronto area

• To immediately save taxpayers about $6.3 million in one-time upgrading costs

• To save $2.2 million in annual maintenance costs

Now, all services previously provided at kiosks are available:

• online – including licence plate sticker renewals and address change requests:
  • more than 40 services are now available online at ServiceOntario.ca

• at almost 300 in-person ServiceOntario centres

Please click here to find out more about online services at ServiceOntario.

Ontario, Canada: Newsroom

NEWS RELEASE

ServiceOntario Kiosks Permanently Closed

November 6, 2012

McGuinty Government Protecting Against Card Skimming, Offering Services Online

Ontario is permanently shutting down its ServiceOntario kiosk system after a thorough investigation into safety and security issues.

All services previously provided at kiosks are available online – including licence plate sticker renewals and address change requests.

The government shut down all 72 kiosks in June after financial partners advised of potential debit and credit card skimming activities at kiosks in the Toronto area. Closing the kiosks permanently will help protect Ontarians’ financial information and will immediately save taxpayers about $6.3 million in one-time upgrading costs and $2.2 million in annual maintenance costs.

Providing online services is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to make it easier for families to access important government services, when and where they need them.

QUOTES

“After months of careful analysis, consultation and testing of multiple options, it has been determined that even if we spend millions on security improvements, the kiosks would still be vulnerable to high-tech crime. We encourage our customers to go online – where it is faster, easier and more secure – to get the services they need.”

– Harinder Takhar
Minister of Government Services

QUICK FACTS

• More than 40 services are now available online at ServiceOntario.ca.
• On average, more than 900,000 online ServiceOntario transactions are completed each month.
• Families still have access to almost 300 in-person ServiceOntario centres.

LEARN MORE

• Find out more about online services at ServiceOntario

CONTACT