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Driver examiners will be hired as public service employees after the province announced a slew of changes to Alberta’s road test model.

“It’s pretty clear that we have a system that’s broken and we need to fix that,” said Transportation Minister Brian Mason at a Tuesday news conference.

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Changes include standardizing fees across the province, launching a call centre to receive complaints from the public and ensuring that rural residents can access road tests.

Mason said road testing is a basic government function and should never have been privatized in 1993.

A 2016 independent report raised concerns about Alberta’s road test system, including inconsistent fees. In July, the province asked for feedback on a plan to improve road testing and driver training.

“Almost 90 per cent of Albertans want standardized fees,” Mason said.

The province will hire 161 examiners, up from the current 153 private employees who are operating in Alberta.