The Ford government is planning to introduce a lifetime ban for those found guilty of dangerous driving causing death, part of a broader justice bill set to be tabled Tuesday afternoon.
Part of the legislation will include measures called Andrew’s Law, named after a father of three who was killed in a collision earlier this year.
Andrew Cristillo, 35, was killed in early August in a head-on crash in Whitchurch-Stouffville, where his wife and three young daughters were injured as well.
Eighteen-year-old Jaiwin Kirubananthan was charged with dangerous driving causing death, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at an accident resulting in death and public mischief.
He is the same man who was charged after a car hit an OPP vehicle Ontario Premier Doug Ford was travelling in on Highway 401 in January.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Andrew’s brother Jordan suggested a number of changes to driving laws in Ontario to punish repeat offenders.
Get breaking National news
“When you make these choices, the result of that could be an empty chair at a dining table for life,” Jordan said on Tuesday. “One choice or lapse of judgment is a life sentence for a family. So keep in mind the impact it has and be responsible, we all have to share the roads and trust others on the road with our lives.”
-
![]()
Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints Chrystia Freeland as economic advisor -
![]()
‘The country is in good hands, dad’: Nicolas Maduro’s son sends message to deposed father -
![]()
Trump warns Iran may get ‘hit very hard’ if regime kills protesters -
![]()
European leaders band together to rebuke Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland
The province said that, as part of its broader fall justice bill, dangerous driving changes will be made in line with the Cristillo family’s suggestions.
“There’s no excuse, not ever, for impaired or dangerous driving,” Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said. “Our government will not tolerate it. We will make sure those who endanger others face real consequences.”
Alongside the lifetime suspension for conviction, police will be allowed to immediately suspend a driver’s licence for 90 days and impound a vehicle if they believe someone was driving dangerously.
Fines and impounds will be handled on a sliding scale. The first offence will come with a 14-day suspension and a $2,000 to $10,000 fine, with the second offence at 30 days and up to $15,000. Subsequent offences could come with fines of up to $20,000 and a 45-day impound period.
“That was originally the issue that Jordan and his family brought forward to us,” Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said. “It takes the driver off the road (while they go through the courts). This was the gap in the system that was then identified.”
The government said it also intends to enhance road safety education for young drivers and increase the fines for anyone convicted of distracted driving.
The changes requested by the Cristillo family have been packed into a broader, wide-ranging justice bill that touches on everything from animal testing to bail reform and new procedures in Ontario’s jails.
The bill was tabled on Tuesday afternoon and will need to be debated before becoming law.
Comments