Minister firm on drunk driving bill despite criticism it lacks teeth

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Manitoba’s justice minister said he isn’t prepared to amend proposed legislation on impaired drivers that has been labelled “weak” and “inconsequential” by a woman whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 2022.

“No one piece of legislation or one amendment will solve the issue of impaired driving,” Matt Wiebe said Wednesday.

Bill 5 – the Highway Amendment Act (Impaired Driving Measures) advanced past the committee stage this week without any amendments being made.

The mother of Jordyn Reimer, who died in 2022, and the Tory opposition called on Wiebe to amend the bill to make it tougher for those convicted of killing or seriously injuring someone from ever getting their driver’s licence back.

“Driving is a privilege,” Karen Reimer told the justice committee Tuesday night.

She pointed out the “tragic irony” of her daughter being a designated driver on the night she was killed by an impaired driver, and demanded “meaningful consequences” for people who choose to drink and drive and kill or maim someone.

Tyler Scott Goodman was driving a pickup truck that was travelling at 108 km/h in a 50 km/hour zone when he ran into the car Jordyn Reimer, 24, was driving on May 1, 2022.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2023 after pleading guilty to impaired driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene.

Bill 5 would impose a lifetime licence suspension on a person who is convicted of an impaired driving offence involving bodily injury or death if two such offences were committed within a 10-year period.

Karen Reimer told the committee she opposes the bill because it’s “weak” and “inconsequential.”

The consequences should be “one and done” for impaired drivers who kill someone or cause serious bodily harm, said PC justice critic Wayne Balcaen, a committee member.

“You’re charged once with impaired driving causing death, and you have your licence suspended or revoked for the rest of your life,” the former Brandon police chief said Wednesday.

Earlier, in the chamber, he said Wiebe was at the committee meeting but wouldn’t address Reimer’s concerns about the bill or answer her question about how many Manitoba drivers have been charged with two counts of impaired driving causing death or bodily harm.

Wiebe later told reporters he supports the bill without amendments because he wants to see the legislation passed before the summer break.

“It’s my intention and I’ve communicated this to the families and to MADD Canada that I’m willing to continue to work with them and continue to strengthen legislation,” Wiebe said.

The bill, which is backed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, will result in Manitoba having some of the strongest impaired driving legislation in the country, the minister said.

The proposed legislation aims to be tough on impaired drivers without overreaching, he said.

“The important advice that we’ve been given is that a lifetime suspension after a first offence could be seen as a disproportionate response,” Wiebe said. “We are concerned that there could be challenges in the courts.”

The legislation “will be be solid in the courts” and able to withstand a challenge while also providing “deterrence,” he said.

“I think it’s important to take steps where we can and continue to work moving forward.”

In Manitoba last year, 15 people were killed and 118 people were injured in impaired driving collisions, MPI reported.

Wiebe said he’s hoping the PCs will support the bill to ensure that it passes.

Balcaen said his party wants it amended.

Legislature rules allow the opposition to choose as many as five government bills to be delayed to the fall sitting.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca