Quebec Liberals wants penalties from a blood alcohol level of 0.05
The Quebec Liberal party (PLQ) feels the province should impose administrative penalties on motorists with a blood alcohol content of 0.05 instead of 0.08.
House Leader Monsef Derraji tabled a motion on Wednesday to force the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government to take a stand on this road safety issue.
"I'm offering the CAQ a golden opportunity to follow the science, (...) the coroner's recommendations, but also the CAA-Quebec's suggestions," said Derraji at a news briefing at the national assembly.
All Canadian provinces except the Yukon impose penalties starting at 0.05. In British Columbia, there has been a 52% drop in fatal accidents thanks to this measure, he pointed out.
Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault is currently piloting Bill 48 to improve Quebec's road safety record, and, so far, she has shown no intention of emulating other provinces.
Derraji calls it an "inexplicable" position, recalling the respect Premier François Legault had for public health experts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Mr. Legault (...) followed all the recommendations made by public health (...) Today, public health is in favour of lowering the threshold to 0.05. (...) So Mr. Legault is not in favour of lowering the threshold.(...) So Mr. Legault is faced with his own contradictions," he said.
For him, not lowering the blood alcohol level in Quebec is tantamount to a lack of "courage" and "empathy."
Last week, Derraji accompanied Antoine Bittar and Elizabeth Rivera to a press briefing to call for Quebec to impose administrative penalties from 0.05 onwards.
The couple lost a child to a recidivist drunk driver.
Bittar and Rivera caused a stir during their appearance at the national assembly when they said they had to pay $200 to the CAQ to talk to Guilbault for two minutes about drinking and driving.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 14, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.