The release and subsequent cancellation of a controversial custom Ontario licence plate referencing Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel triggered a complete review and overhaul of the province’s personalized licence plate system, Global News has learned.
At the end of January 2024, ServiceOntario approved the release of a licence plate with the words “October7” on it, apparently referencing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and roughly 250 taken hostage.
Within weeks, the licence plate had been revoked and an internal review was triggered. The province, however, has been unable to get hold of the physical plate and images have occasionally circulated on social media over the course of the year.
“The ministry suspended the licence plate and issued a return order,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, which is responsible for ServiceOntario, told Global News.
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