May 9, 2006

MADD Canada's 2006 Mother's Day Report:
'hope for results from this Justice Minister and this Parliament'

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) today made a Mother's Day wish of federal MPs for this Parliament to pass new impaired driving legislation within the up-coming year.

In it's 2006 Mother's Day Report, MADD Canada is calling for the elimination of conditional sentences for violent impaired driving crimes, the reintroduction of drug impaired driving measures, the closing of legal loopholes that allow impaired drivers to walk free of their charges, and a new 0.05% BAC (blood alcohol concentration) 253(c) Criminal Code offence.    

"We are making a Mother's Day wish for more effective impaired driving laws to reduce the incidents of drinking and driving and make our roads safer for all motorists," says Karen Dunham, MADD Canada's National President. "MADD Canada's mothers and family members want to put an end to Canadians being senselessly killed and injured in impaired driving crashes."

"There's genuine hope for results from this Justice Minister and this Parliament," Mrs. Dunham explains, "Minister Toews has proven a champion in the fight against impaired driving as Justice Minister in the Manitoba Government and in his time in Ottawa. We are very encouraged that there are so many MPs in this Parliament who support the introduction of new impaired driving legislation."

MADD Canada is calling for five specific policy initiatives. They want Parliamentarians to:

• Eliminate the use of conditional sentences for violent crimes, including impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm.
• Re-introduce drug impaired driving legislation that will provide police with the legal framework to apprehend and charge drug impaired drivers.
• Strengthen the presumptions regarding the use of breath or blood test evidence so as to narrow 'evidence to the contrary' defences; referring specifically to the Carter Defence (or 'Two-Drink Defence') and the 'Last Drink Defence.'
• Provide authorities with the statutory authority to demand a breath (or blood) sample at the scene of a crash where a person has been killed or seriously injured. This authority to demand breath (or blood) samples should be extended to a hospital or medical office.
• Amend the Criminal Code to establish a new 253(c) 0.05% BAC law.

With respect to eliminating the use of conditional sentencing, MADD Canada is supportive of the Government's new legislation, which Justice Minister Vic Toews tabled in the House of Commons last Thursday.

"Parliamentarians can bring about significant changes to our federal laws that will save lives and prevent injuries on our roads."  Mrs. Dunham insists, "The severity of the crime warrants MPs take a fresh look at what can be done to fight impaired driving. Impaired driving is Canada's number one criminal cause of death.  On average, it kills four Canadians each day and seriously injures another 190 daily. We keep harping on the fact that impaired driving should be a priority because, with these numbers of deaths and injuries, the status quo is just not acceptable."

In commenting on the variety of policy initiatives forwarded by MADD Canada, Mrs. Dunham says, "There are many different types of drinking drivers - there are social drinkers, binge drinkers, hardcore alcohol dependents - and, then there are youth.  In order to significantly impact the deaths and injuries caused by impaired driving, the Federal Government must take a comprehensive approach to fighting the crime of impaired driving and to impact all types of drinking drivers.  It must consider a plan that will rethink Criminal Code offences for the crime, enhance police enforcement, and address key judicial issues that are making a mockery of our Canadian justice system."

The National President adds, "The organization, it's membership and supporters, will work with Parliamentarians over the next twelve months to advance these priority policies.  It is our hope that next year, at this time, we might be able to point to some tangible steps taken in improving our country's impaired driving laws and making our roads safer from those who continue to drink or take drugs and drive."

MADD Canada is a grassroots organization with over 80 local Chapters across Canada and more than 750,000 Canadians who donate annually to the mission of stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime.

For more information, visit www.madd.ca or call:

Karen Dunham, National President
(506) 635-5800     

Andrew Murie, Chief Executive Officer
1-800-665-6233, ext. 224

Also see:

• Mother's Day Report (PDF)
• Background Note - MADD Canada Calls For New Impaired Driving Legislation(PDF)
• Send a Mother's Day e-postcard to your MP