JUST Committee Report
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Mr. Ed Fast, M.P. Dear Mr. Fast: I am pleased to table the Government’s Response to the Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights “Ending alcohol-impaired driving: a common approach” in accordance with Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons. The Government shares the Committee’s concern that there has been an increase in deaths caused by impaired driving in recent years and its determination to strengthen the Criminal Code provisions dealing with this crime that kills and injures thousands of Canadians every year. The Report will greatly assist the Government in its ongoing efforts to make the impaired driving provisions of the Criminal Code more effective and to contribute to reducing the carnage on our roads caused by alcohol-impaired drivers. The Government accepts the Committee’s recommendations in principle. The Government notes that this area of the law has become excessively complex. The breath-testing provisions, for example, are now 40 years old, and they have been repeatedly amended in response to technological advances and court decisions. Considerable work has been done by federal, provincial and territorial officials on simplifying and modernizing the impaired driving provisions of the Criminal Code. The Government will consult on a priority basis with the provinces, territories, law enforcement, prosecutors and other stakeholders on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Standing Committee with a view to developing a comprehensive set of reforms. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the other members of the Committee for your excellent work in reviewing the impaired driving provisions of the Criminal Code and providing constructive recommendations. Yours truly, The Honourable Rob Nicholson |