Government officials say Motor Vehicle Registration will be open between 8:30 and 4:30 from now on after all staff went on a break at the same time yesterday.

Those arriving for appointments at the Mount Pearl location were met by a sign on the locked door, and had to wait outside with one man reporting that he waited nearly 45 minutes before he was let in.

The matter was raised in the House of Assembly by Opposition member Loyola O’Driscoll.

Minister Sarah Stoodley called it an “error.”

The department tells VOCM News that now that COVID case numbers have dropped, they have been working with staff to “transition to an approach combining appointment and walk-in service.” The department says when it found out that the doors were locked during a break, staff were “immediately reminded to stagger their breaks so there is no disruption in service during regular business hours.”