OTTAWA, November 1, 2004 – The Government of Canada today announced proposed legislative reforms and $6.9 million in new funding to strengthen investigations of drug-impaired driving offences.

"Currently, suspected drivers can volunteer to participate in testing. This legislation will allow the police to require these tests in order to apprehend those suspected of drug-impaired driving." said Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, in introducing legislation in Parliament. "These much-needed reforms are about saving Canadians' lives."

"Today's announcement reinforces the Government of Canada's commitment to give police the tools they need to detect and deter drug-impaired driving in Canada," added Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Anne McLellan. "The funds we have committed with this bill will go a long way to making our roads and communities safer."

Drug-impaired driving is already a Criminal Code offence that can result in severe penalties, including a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if it causes the death of another person. Officers usually rely upon symptoms of impairment, driving behaviour and witness testimony when enforcing drug-impaired driving offences. Currently in Canada, however, police can only ask a driver to voluntarily participate in tests for drug impairment.

The legislation would give police the authority to demand physical tests and bodily fluid samples from suspected drug-impaired drivers. Refusal by a driver to comply with a demand would be a criminal offence.

The $6.9 million in new funding will be used primarily to implement these reforms through a nationwide "train the trainers" approach for Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluations – proven techniques to detect drug impairment. This investment builds on initial funding of $910,000 provided through the Government of Canada's Renewed Drug Strategy, announced in May 2003, and $4.1 million reallocated from within RCMP. As a result, $11.9 million in total funding will have been provided by the Government of Canada to address drug-impaired driving.

The measures announced today would deliver on the Government's commitment to address drug-impaired driving while reforms to modernize Canada's cannabis laws are also being proposed. This legislation will enhance investigations of driving while impaired by any drug – over-the-counter, prescription or illegal – not just cannabis.

An on-line version of the legislation will be available at www.parl.gc.ca.

To learn more about Canada's renewed Drug Strategy, please visit the Health Canada website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/index_e.html

Backgrounder: Strengthening Drug-Impaired Driving Investigations

Ref.:

Denise Rudnicki
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice
(613) 992-4621

Alex Swann
Director of Communications
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
(613) 991-2863

Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
(613) 957-4207

Media Relations
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
(613) 991-0657