PM TARGETS STONED DRIVERS

Plans to Increase Police Powers to Test for Drugs Proposed Law Hailed
As 'Step in Right Direction'

kitchener-Mike and Barbara Rider have been waiting a long time for a
law that cracks down on drug-impaired drivers.

Their 16-year-old son David died in a fiery multi-car pileup in 1999
caused by a teen driving while under the influence of cannabis. Four
other teens were killed and nine injured in the crash on Highway 7 near Perth.

The driver who caused the accident was discovered to be drug-impaired
only after he was treated for his injuries and had to have blood work
done at the hospital, said Barbara Rider, 56.

New legislation announced yesterday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
will give police more powers to test drivers for drugs.

"I think it's a step in the right direction. I believe it's been a
long time coming," said Mike Rider, 58.

"When I look at the young people, how devastated their lives have
been, it's nice to see (the government) doing new work with (Mothers
Against Drunk Driving)," added Barbara Rider.

Harper announced the proposed legislation at a news conference with
members of MADD Canada and Senator Marjory LeBreton.

LeBreton's daughter and 12-year-old grandson were killed 10 years ago
by a drunk driver.

"Drug-impaired driving has terrible consequences for people, families
and communities," Harper said. "Just as governments once took action
on drunk driving, we must act today to make drug-impaired driving
just as socially unacceptable."

Similar legislation - that would allow officers to demand capability
tests when they suspect a person is stoned and would make it illegal
to refuse giving a body-fluid sample - has been introduced in the
past, most recently in 2004. But that legislation died with the
change of government.

"We just hope that this time it gets through before there's any kind
of election," Andrew Muir, CEO of MADD Canada said. "They owe it to
families like the Riders."

Part of the legislation would also focus on spreading the message -
with partners like MADD Canada - that drug-impaired driving is not acceptable.

Liberal associate justice critic Brian Murphy was quick to point out
that in September the Conservatives cut more than $4 million from the
RCMP's Elimination of Drug-Impaired Driving Program's training budget.

That program is designed to teach officers how to identify a person
who is impaired.

"We find it a bit hypocritical," Murphy (Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe)
said after question period. "On one hand the Prime Minister is making
through a nice photo op, in a very sensitive way, an announcement
regarding a project - a bill which seems very sensible.

"On the other hand, he's not giving the police who have asked for the
tool kit to enforce such measures ... the resources to put it into effect."

Murphy said he hoped the Conservatives will either reinstate the $4
million cut or offer an alternative.

Harper said the current training program was ineffective.

"We are putting resources into dealing with this problem," he said.
"We want to make sure that the resources that we spend go into
programs that are effective."

Harper said it was too early to provide details of the legislation
but Muir said he expects it will be similar to previous legislation
that didn't make it to law.

In A Few For The Road, a Star series published last month, the paper
examined the toll impaired driving continues to take on society. To
read the series, go to thestar.com/impaired.