Family of woman killed by drunk driver calls proposed stiffer penalties 'inconsequential'
Bill seeks lifetime ban after 2nd conviction in 10 years if crash causes death, harm
Manitoba's government is pushing through legislation it says will strengthen penalties and deter drivers from driving while impaired, but a family who lost a loved one to a drunk driver calls the proposed amendments "inconsequential."
The bill, introduced in December and discussed at a committee meeting on Tuesday, would impose a lifetime licence suspension on a driver convicted of driving impaired and causing the death or bodily harm for a second time within a decade.
Currently, there is a 10-year licence suspension for a second offence.
The proposed amendments to the Highway Traffic Act would also prohibit convicted offenders from driving with any alcohol in their blood for seven years after a first offence. A second conviction would carry a lifetime prohibition.
Matt Wiebe, Manitoba's attorney general and justice minister, says that while no piece of legislation will solve the issue of impaired driving, the amendment should serve as a deterrent.
"This brings us to the forefront of impaired driving legislation," Wiebe said.
However, the family of a woman killed by a drunk driver in 2022, argues a convicted drunk driver who caused the death or injury of someone should be subject to an immediate lifetime driving ban.
"I think that is ludicrous … why are we giving people a second kick at the can to kill somebody," Karen Reimer said.
Her daughter, Jordyn Reimer, was killed in the early hours of May 1, 2022, in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Bond Street and Kildare Avenue after impaired driver Tyler Scott Goodman ran two stop signs before crashing into her.
She says authorities shouldn't be soft on penalties for impaired driving because it is a matter of saving lives.
"We don't want to make legislation that's inconsequential. It has to be meaningful and that's what we're advocating for," Reimer said.
At Tuesday's committee meeting, Reimer's family brought forward other proposals for changes to the legislation, including a licence suspension of five years instead of one after conviction on an impaired driving offence that didn't cause bodily harm, and stripping a licence permanently after a second offence.
"We're going to send a stronger message. We're going to have more deterrence. People are going to think more about driving drunk again," she said.
Province 'not listening to amendments'
Wayne Balcaen, justice critic for the Progressive Conservatives, says the legislation should have been stronger, adding that he stands by Reimer's proposal while also including possibly having legislation that carried a lifetime suspension for those driving under the influence with children.
"It is a privilege to drive, it's not a right to drive," Balcaen said.
"There's kind of a 10-step program in the number of suspensions that you can have and licence revocation … it certainly allows people time and time and time again to commit an offence."
However, Reimer and Balcaen's proposals were rejected by the government.
WATCH | Manitoba family wants lifetime ban for drivers convicted of causing death while impaired:
"We really felt that after providing our input, we're not heard," Reimer said. "It really became blatantly apparent that the NDP has already decided this is the bill … they're not listening to amendments."
Wiebe says the proposed changes have been brought into the legislation so it can hold up in the court system, where there are concerns it can be challenged.
"A lifetime suspension after a first offence could be seen as a disproportionate response to the pursuit of having safer roads, which again is the focus of this bill," Wiebe said.
"We don't want to stop this from coming into effect because we know this will make a difference."
With files from Ian Froese and The Canadian Press