Quebec Liberals say Guilbault has lost her credibility when it comes to road safety
Quebec's Official Opposition accused Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault of negligence in relation to drunk driving and that she has lost her credibility when it comes to ensuring road safety,
The Quebec auto insurance board (SAAQ) is in favour of imposing administrative penalties on drivers with a blood alcohol level of between 0.05 and 0.08, according to documents obtained by "Le Devoir."
Guilbault had opposed the addition of this measure to a bill she had piloted, and she recently admitted that she had not read this opinion.
The PLQ is in favour of tightening to 0.05. The previous Couillard government had considered imposing it but failed to follow through.
"I think that a minister who admits not reading expert advice before making decisions simply doesn't have the credibility to ensure road safety," said Liberal MNA Monsef Derraji during a press scrum in parliament, without going so far as to call for the minister's resignation.
"It's the drunk-driving scandal with this CAQ government," he added.
It was coroner Yvon Garneau who, in Oct. 2021, had asked the Ministry of Transport and the SAAQ to carry out a feasibility analysis on this potential tightening, called for by groups and relatives of victims of drunk drivers.
The Liberal party had requested the opinion under the Access to Information Act, but it was heavily redacted.
However, "Le Devoir" obtained the document in its entirety. The SAAQ sees administrative sanctions for blood alcohol levels between 0.05 and 0.08 as a "promising measure," it says.
"We want to save lives, but the Minister has refused to move in this direction," condemned Québec solidaire (QS) MNA Étienne Grandmont.
Citing the report, Grandmont maintains that there was "dissension" within the CAQ caucus on this measure and that, therefore, "she decided to put the lid on the pot," he continued.
"While the debate was really inescapable in the Assembly, she would have been negligent to the point of not reading the study commissioned by her ministry?" asked PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon at the press scrum. "Or maybe she's lying and we can't trust her word."
He called for a parliamentary commission to discuss tightening the standard, tightening roadblocks and other preventive measures.
"The government doesn't want to be confronted with experts or science. (...) It makes the debate difficult because there is no transparency," concluded St-Pierre Plamondon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 8, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, dies at 91
Quincy Jones, the multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson's historic 'Thriller' album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, has died at 91.
Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House as he closes campaign with increasingly dark message
Donald Trump, who said in Pennsylvania on Sunday that he regrets leaving the White House in 2021, is ending the 2024 campaign the way he began it – dishing out a stew of violent, disparaging rhetoric and repeated warnings that he will not accept defeat if it comes.
Poilievre asks premiers to axe their sales taxes on new homes worth under $1 million
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to the provinces' premiers, asking them to eliminate their sales taxes on new homes that are under $1 million.
No strike notice so far as talks continue between Canada Post and workers' union
Canada Post says talks are continuing with the union that represents postal workers and neither side has given notice of a work stoppage.
Where should Canada look to improve its housing situation? The answer may shock you
Housing experts argue widespread adoption of government-supported affordable housing, the growth of alternative models like co-operatives and co-housing, and the increased use of advanced building techniques could all play a role in improving Canada's housing system.
James Van Der Beek says he has colorectal cancer
The 'Dawson’s Creek' alum told People magazine in a statement published Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.
At least 36 dead after overcrowded and dilapidated bus skids into a deep gorge in northern India
A poorly maintained and overcrowded bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in northern India on Monday, killing at least 36 people and injuring several others, officials said.
Utility says power back on in Kimmirut after days-long outage
Power has been restored to a Nunavut hamlet on Baffin Island following a days-long outage that began on Thursday.
Guelph, Ont. woman says she was pushed to homelessness and 'thrown on the street'
For people living on the fringe of society, the line between the safety and security of a home and homelessness is very thin.