Canon MP610 printer driver

After updating to OS 10.8.3 on my iMac 27 I can no longer use my Canon MP610. This printer has ALWAYS worked with Lion and Mt. Lion all versions. When I go to print a document there is no printer available. When I try to add my MP610 there is a message that says

"The selected printer software is available from Apple. Click Add to download it and add this printer."

Upon clicking add another windown says

"Setting up Canon MP610 series"

then goes into finding software mode and the progress bar gets about half way and this error message appears:

"Can't install the software for the Canon MP610 series because it is not currently available from the Software Update server."

I have downloaded the Mt. Lion driver from Canon, installed the package successfully and it still wants to go looking for the driver on the Software Updarte server; unsuccessfully. After an hour on the phone with both Apple and Canon, no one has a solution.

Why cant the OS recognize the manually downloaded and installed driver that already exists on the hard drive as it has always done? It's as if it is now programmed to only go the the Update server to look for the software and it's not there. Perplexing. USB printers are supposed to be plug and play.

I have noticed that Apple has removed all Canon printers from the Apple Store. What happened? Has Apple abandoned Canon or is it the reverse.

Thanks in advance.