STREET RACING BILL BECOMES LAW

OTTAWA, December 15, 2006 – The Honourable Vic Toews, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today welcomed the Royal Assent and coming into force of Bill C-19, which will help protect Canada's streets and communities from the threat of street racing.

"People who disregard the safety of our streets must be met with serious consequences," said Minister Toews, "Bill C-19 amends the Criminal Code to create targeted, new offences to specifically combat street racing. This, activity is causing too many tragic and senseless fatalities on Canada's roadways."

These new offences build upon existing Criminal Code offences and provide enhanced maximum penalties of incarceration for the most serous street racing offences. Bill C-19 also creates mandatory minimum periods of driving prohibition for those convicted of street racing. "This is the type of penalty Canadians expect for those who abuse the privilege of operating a motor vehicle and put the lives of innocent people at risk," said Minister Toews.

The length of the driving prohibitions will increase for repeat offenders. In the most serious cases involving repeat street racing offenders, Bill C-19 provides for a mandatory lifetime driving prohibition. This would occur when an offender has at least two street racing convictions which have caused bodily harm or death and at least one of those convictions involves street racing causing death.

"Legitimate motor-sport activities will not be criminalized by Bill C-19," stated Minister Toews. "Races that occur on closed tracks, circuits, streets closed to the public or rallies that are sanctioned by recognised motor sport authorities and conducted in accordance with the law will not be affected by these amendments."

For an online version of the legislation, visit www.parl.gc.ca.

- 30 -

Ref.:

Mark Quinlan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621

Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207