Liberals table another bill to lower blood alcohol limit for Quebec drivers to 0.05
On the anniversary of their daughter's death, a West Island couple is welcoming a renewed push at the national assembly to lower the blood-alcohol limit in Quebec.
Elizabeth Rivera and Antoine Bittar lost their daughter Jessica to a collision caused by an impaired driver seven years ago. Now they're doing everything they can to reduce the number of these kinds of crashes in the future.
On Tuesday, Quebec Liberal Party transport critic Monsef Derraji ramped up pressure on the CAQ government by tabling a new bill that would impose administrative penalties, such as fines and suspended licences, on drivers as soon as their blood alcohol level reaches 0.05.
Currently in Canada, a blood alcohol level of 0.08 is considered a criminal offence – but all Canadian provinces except Quebec impose penalties at 0.05.
The tightened measure is supported by Quebec's public health institute, CAA Quebec and the Quebec coroner's office.
"Drunk driving shatters lives and sows death, sadness and tragedy in its wake. When it comes to safety, saving lives means doing what's necessary, not just what's popular. With the studies, recommendations and cries from the hearts of bereaved families, the CAQ cannot turn a deaf ear and, consequently, make Quebec look like a failure when it comes to road safety," said Derraji in a statement.
The proposed legislation comes after a motion tabled last month was defeated, with all CAQ MNAs voting against it.
Rivera and Bittar had previously visited Quebec City to testify before a committee on a new road safety law. It was ultimately passed without the measure to lower the blood alcohol limit. The couple say this type of measure would honour the memory of their 26-year-old daughter and make Quebec roads safer.
Jessica Sarli-Rivera was killed by a drunk driver in 2017. (Courtesy: Rivera family)
"It's not easy. It doesn't get easy. What hurts is that people don't understand and the government doesn't understand," said Rivera.
The CAQ said it passed the road safety bill without the measure because the party believes it would make people living in the regions less likely to go out to bars and restaurants.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about Plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Ont. woman who faked pregnancy to defraud doulas arrested again on similar charges
Victims of a Brantford, Ont., woman who was sentenced to house arrest earlier this year for defrauding and deceiving doulas say they’re not surprised she’s been apprehended again on similar charges.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Construction begins on LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa
Shovels have hit the ground for constuction on Canada's LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa.
B.C. man awarded $5,000 in damages in first-of-it-kind intimate image case
In a first-of-its-kind case, a B.C. tribunal has ruled on a dispute involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, awarding damages and issuing orders that the photos be destroyed and taken offline.