Letter Of The Day

ADDRESS DRUG-IMPAIRED DRIVING

Re: "Calgary tops in drunk drivers," Nov. 8

We should be extremely proud that Calgary is leading in the fight to stop
impaired driving. If we keep up the strong enforcement, we may one day see
the number of Canadians killed by impaired driving, currently at
1,500-1,600 per year, significantly decline. I commend the Calgary and
Edmonton police services.

Unfortunately, police cannot enforce laws that do not exist. If Justice
Minister Martin Cauchon's bill to decriminalize marijuana is passed, police
across the country will be faced with a big challenge. Currently, adequate
laws are not in place in Canada to deal with drug-impaired driving.

Loosening drug possession laws will only increase the number of impaired
drivers.

No more procrastinating, the time is now for the issue of drug-impaired
driving to be addressed.

Not doing so is sending the wrong message to Canadians, particularly to
young people.

Partap Singh Rehill

National Youth Leader, Alberta

MADD Canada

(We shouldn't wait for a change in marijuana laws to enact new impaired
driving legislation.)