The Trudeau government has a piece of legislation quietly sliding through Parliament on its way to becoming law — reportedly just before Christmas — that will significantly impact the civil rights of Canadians. The citizens of this country should consider the implications of the proposed law and, if they are unhappy with the legislation, tell their MPs.
Bill C-46 would change Canada’s impaired driving laws to allow police officers to randomly pull over any driver and demand a breath sample. Under the current laws, an officer can only pull over a vehicle or demand a breath sample if there are what the lawyers call “indicia of impairment” — some evidence that the driver is impaired. That could include behaviour such as failing to stay in one’s lane, speeding, travelling too slowly, operating lights improperly, or slurring or smelling of alcohol or, for instance, marijuana once pulled over.
That is as it should be in a country with a justice system based on the important principle of innocent until proven guilty.
Editorial Board – Vancouver Sun – July 6, 2018.
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