As part of our continuing election coverage the Gazette asked candidates in the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock riding for their views on Alberta's new impaired driving legislation.
Last fall, the government passed legislation that included tougher sanctions for criminally impaired drivers, as well as longer suspensions and vehicle seizures when a driver has a blood alcohol in the .05 to .08 range, below the level for criminal sanctions. Do you support this legislation?
Maureen Kubinec – Progressive Conservative
I do support Bill 26. Under the previous legislation the 24-hour suspension for drivers at .05 to .08 did not work well enough. There were no consequences for getting 24-hour suspensions, regardless of how many. Every province except Quebec had already introduced roadside penalties at either .05 or .04.
At .05, drivers are seven times more likely to get in a fatal car accident and 100 per cent more likely to be involved in a collision.
Albertans who have been given roadside suspensions can appeal to the Traffic Safety Board and if the suspension is overturned, all costs incurred must be returned.
There is no criminal record imposed. This legislation saves lives. It does not target social drinkers or the hospitality industry. It targets people who drink too much and then choose to drive, endangering the lives of everyone else on the road.
Lisa Grant – Evergreen Party
The reality is that under the Traffic Safety Act we have no right to drive – we are afforded the privilege to do so and any abuse of that privilege, whether by reckless behaviour, or self-medication, can and should have tangible consequences.
The sentiment behind the new legislation is valid, and anyone who acts responsibly should have no reason to take issue with it. The problem lies in the possibility of arbitrary and heavy-handed implementation of the new consequences, and it is just asking for a Charter challenge. I believe the law should allow for more flexibility at the lower levels and harsher penalties at the higher end.
Leslie Penny – Liberal
Impaired driving has led to countless tragedies in our province and beyond. British Columbia saw a significant decrease in fatalities after increasing their roadside sanctions for those with blood alcohol levels of .05 to .08.
If the driver believes he or she is justified in appealing the suspension, the process can be lengthy and can actually increase the time of the suspension. The legislation needs to be reviewed to allow timely due process in these situations.
Increased sanctions for those with blood alcohol levels of .08 in other jurisdictions have resulted in a decrease in fatalities and injuries.
Death or injury due to impaired driving is not the result of an accident. They are a consequence of someone choosing to drink and then drive, knowing that their ability is impaired.
Link Byfield – Wildrose
Wildrose opposes this law because we believe that government's limited law enforcement resources should be deployed against drunk drivers, not against people who are not legally impaired. Federal statistics show that the vast majority of deaths and accidents arise from people who are well above .08. Wildrose will toughen enforcement on drunk drivers.
Trudy Grebenstein – NDP
Alberta's NDP supports this new legislation because it will save lives. Evidence of when people are impaired and should not drive speaks for itself. However, enforcement would give this legislation some teeth and I am not convinced that is happening.
