EDMONTON – Alberta’s new tougher drunk driving laws are expected to be rolled out over the next seven months, the province’s transportation minister said Wednesday.
Ray Danyluk said the timelines are fluid, but the immediate priority will be on getting the system in place within three months to target drivers charged under the Criminal Code.
Then, he said, they’ll get the rules in place for those who are caught driving close to the legal limit – at .05 to .08 blood-alcohol content.
“We need to do a fair amount of work to get the .05 to .08 in place, especially because of the tracking and especially to ensure there’s co-ordination (among police) throughout the province,” said Danyluk.
The controversy around the new laws dominated debate in the three-week fall sitting of the house, the first sitting with Redford as premier.
The sitting wrapped up Wednesday.
The drunk-driving legislation met with criticism inside and outside Redford’s Progressive Conservative caucus as soon as it was proposed late last month.
Political opponents, along with Tory backbenchers like Lloyd Snelgrove and Richard Marz, said there are steep ramifications for drivers who aren’t even legally drunk. They also suggested it could hurt the hospitality industry.
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The new law comes down hard on anyone charged with driving drunk under the Criminal Code, which is defined as a .08 blood-alcohol content reading or greater.
Once charged, an Alberta motorist will now lose his or her driver’s licence until the case is resolved in court. Critics say that is a substantial penalty that could see a licence effectively withdrawn for months or years, and one that is wrongly imposed because it comes before guilt or innocence is even determined.
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“How can the premier, a human rights lawyer, defend laws that assume guilt and dole out punishment before due process?” Sherman asked Redford during question period Wednesday.
“Why are you asking police officers to be judge and jury at the side of the road?”
Redford said while the province doesn’t have the right to make criminal laws, it can pass laws to make roads safer.
“We have the opportunity to set standards,” said Redford. “And we are able to say to people that if you take actions, there will be consequences.”
The law also goes after drivers in the so-called grey zone of impairment, which is .05 to .08.
Those caught in this range will have their licences taken away starting at three days and escalating to a month for repeat offenders. There are also vehicle seizures up to a week at a time.
Danielle Smith, leader of the Wildrose party, says punishing someone who is not criminally liable is nonsense.
“They made a major blunder in this regard,” Smith told a news conference.
“One of the best comments I’ve heard about is that it’s like going after somebody for almost speeding, for giving someone a ticket for going 45 in a 50 zone.”
Redford noted that similar laws have been upheld in court. Last week, a Supreme Court judge in British Columbia ruled the province has the right to impose administrative penalties for those driving .05 to .08.
The drunk-driving bill was among six that passed third and final reading at the legislature late Tuesday night.
The Tories also passed new rules mandating spring general elections every four years starting in 2012. That means Redford could drop the writ on a vote in less than two months.
Another bill laid the groundwork for an independent inquiry into allegations doctors have been harassed and intimidated by their bosses for speaking out on substandard patient care.
Redford has promised to call such an inquiry after the Health Quality Council delivers its findings on the matter in February.
Another bill sets up the child advocate as an independent legislature officer to improve reporting and government action on child care.
The province has also passed changes to its land rules, giving landowners more rights and better compensation when the government decides to put a hold on private land it may eventually want for a highway or water reservoir.
The final bill made housekeeping amendments to justice and court statutes.
The Tories, using their authority as the governing party, limited debate time on some of the controversial bills – including the drunk driving rules – in order to pass them this week.
The opposition has railed against it, saying debate limits are undemocratic and contrary to Redford’s promise of full consultation.
“How is a three-week session – using late-night sittings and imposing closure on important pieces of legislation – changing how the legislature operates?” NDP Leader Brian Mason asked Redford.
The premier disagreed, noting that some of the government bills had support from opposition members.
Alberta politicians are expected to meet up one more time in the spring before the election campaign.
Redford has said she wants to bring in a budget and present other policies to give voters a clear picture of where she wants to take the province before dropping the writ.
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