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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - While Martin Rohac has been waiting to get his right-hand-drive 1992 Nissan Skyline licensed since May, another vehicle with a right-side steering wheel has been given the green light.

Jeff Corradetti and Martin Rohac with Rohac's 1992 Nissan Skyline, imported from Japan. - NNSL file photo

Rohac and Jeff Corradetti, founder of the Northwest Territories Automobile Council (NTAC), have lobbied a slew of government representatives, including MLAs, the NWT Department of Transportation and the federal government, to get the Japanese import on the road legally.

Both have been told Rohac must wait until the Department of Transportation implements an official policy on right-hand-drive vehicles, which is expected in mid-August.

Yet the two men recently learned that about a month ago another driver successfully licensed his right-hand drive vehicle in the NWT.

"It's a dog and pony show," said Corradetti, referring to the policy process. "The transportation department is telling us to wait, wait, wait. And meanwhile other people don't have to wait."

Glen Abernethy, MLA for Great Slave, confirmed a right-hand drive vehicle has been licensed since Rohac's attempt.

He disagrees with the decision to license the vehicle.

"I absolutely don't think they should have," he said of the licensing.

Until the Department of Transportation has the policy in order, he added, "Everybody should wait."

The vehicle in question was licensed because it passed B.C. requirements for licensing RHD vehicles - the same system the territory is likely to base its policy on. The car will, however, have to be put through the NWT system once it's in place.

"I don't care that the other guy had paperwork and Mr. Rohac didn't," said Abernethy. "My opinion is that once the government became aware (of safety concerns), there are liability issues."

Abernethy added he supports the push for the policy - although he was originally enlisted by Rohac and Corradetti to protest it.

"It makes sense," he said. Right-hand drive cars "are not designed for this country. There are all sorts of little things about them that make them unsafe for you, for me and for other people to drive them."

Abernethy said there's also the issue of whether Rohac was given the opportunity to go through the B.C. system as well. The Department of Transportation said he was, which Rohac and Corradetti deny, and claim that it shouldn't matter anyway.

Both point to the exemption provided under Motor Vehicle Safety Act at the federal level which states that cars like Rohac's, which are 15 years or older, are not subject to comply with Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations.

Department of Transportation director Al Kaylo said the exemption only applies to the importing of the vehicles. Provinces and territories are able to set safety standards for the actual use of such cars, he said.

Corradetti doesn't buy it. The intent of the exemption, he said, "was to allow the car into the country so you can drive the damn thing. What else is a car good for?"