JUSTICE MINISTER TOEWS TACKLING DRUGS, BAIL

Provencher MP and federal Justice Minister Vic Toews has introduced a
bill designed to crack down on drug-impaired drivers.

The bill would reform the Criminal Code to subject drug-impaired
drivers to a similar set of tests already given to those under the
influence of alcohol.

If the reforms are put in place, police will be able to demand that a
person suspected of driving while impaired by drugs participate in a
sobriety test at the roadside, and will also be able to demand that
the driver participate in bodily fluid sample tests at a police station.

Toews said testing a driver for drugs can be a complicated affair, and
the reforms are intended to simplify the process for police.

"For alcohol, we already have devices that allow police to test
someone (easily at the roadside)," Toews said.

Penalties for impaired driving would also increase under the new
legislation -- drivers with blood alcohol levels exceeding .08 will
face life in prison in the case of causing death, and a maximum
10-year sentence if they cause bodily harm to someone as a result of
driving while impaired.

A new bill also introduced by Toews last week will toughen bail
conditions for anyone accused of a gun crime, a motion that elaborates
on several other pieces of crime legislation the Tories have put forward.

The reforms would require those accused of serious crimes involving
firearms to provide justification to be granted bail while awaiting
trial.

Currently, it is up to Crown prosecutors to convince the court why
bail should not be granted to someone accused of a firearms offence.