e-1327 (Impaired driving)

Petition to the Minister of Justice

• On average between 1,200 to 1,500 people each year are killed by impaired drivers;
• Tens of thousands of people each year are injured by impaired drivers;
• Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death;
• Impaired driving is a serious criminal behaviour that has resulted in carnage on Canada's roads;
• Impaired driving sentences are far too lenient;
• Denunciation, deterrence, and the promotion of responsibility are sentencing principles under the Criminal Code;
• Lenient sentences routinely given to impaired drivers is fundamentally unjust to the many victims of impaired driving and does not fit the seriousness of the offence;
• Bill C-46 does not include meaningful minimum penalties for impaired driving offences;
• Minimum penalties are consistent with sentencing principles under the Criminal Code;
• Minimum penalties will help ensure that impaired drivers are held accountable for the seriousness of the crime of driving while impaired; and
• Bill C-46 does not strengthen penalties for the most serious impaired driving offence; impaired driving causing death.