POLICE WATCH FOR ACTION ON CANCELLED LEGISLATION

POLICE across the country are watching to see how quickly an expected
Conservative government resurrects legislation that gives law
officers powers to go after drug-impaired drivers and intercept
e-mail communication.

Bills C-16, a piece of legislation aimed at curbing drug-impaired
driving, and C-74, the Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act,
died when the federal election was called.

Winnipeg police Patrol Sgt. Rob Riffel, the force's impaired
countermeasures co-ordinator, said C-16 has been in the works for
about five years, but two federal elections in as many years kept it
from being passed into law.

"We expect it to be introduced again, but that's up in the air," he said.

The bill would give police greater authority to conduct roadside
sobriety tests and demand a blood, saliva or urine sample to verify
drug impairment. Riffel said agreeing to such a demand is voluntary
now. The intent of C-16 is to put drug impairment on an equal footing
with drunk driving. If a suspected drug-impaired driver refuses a
demand for testing, the new law would see them charged with refusal.

Ottawa came up with C-16 in response to police concerns that former
prime minister Jean Chretien's Liberal government wanted to
decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Police feared
that would lead to an increase in drug-impaired driving.

The same bill called for tougher sentences to target marijuana
grow-operations -- a maximum penalty of 14 years for possession of
more than 50 marijuana plants.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has said he has no plans to
decriminalize marijuana.

The proposed Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act, Bill
C-74, which was introduced last fall, would allow police to compel
Internet service providers to disclose subscriber information,
including names, addresses, telephone numbers, IP addresses and
cellphone numbers.

Winnipeg police Chief Jack Ewatski, president of the Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police, said he supports this type of legislation.

"In essence, we are of the strong opinion that legislation is needed
to assist law enforcement in an era where communication technology
has surpassed our ability to conduct investigations in the most
effective manner," Ewatski said yesterday.