MADD brings recommendations to the government to help reduce impaired driving

The Saskatchewan government will move forward with measures to reduce drinking and driving this fall.

However they won’t yet reveal exactly what those changes will be.

Any measures will be introduced in the upcoming fall session starting Oct. 19.

The government describes it as a three-pronged approach encompassing enforcement, education and penalty.

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) Minister Joe Hargrave also wants to look at what other provinces have done.

“We want to see what BC has done right, what B.C. did wrong,” Hargrave explained.

“They ran into some legal challenges to their new legislation, we want to make sure we don’t run into that same issue.”

The B.C. example is something MADD Canada would like to see Saskatchewan follow.

CEO Andrew Murie met with Hargrave and Justice Minister Gord Wyant Tuesday.

Murie believes implementing measures, like immediately taking away someone’s vehicle, is the way to make real change.

“These changes like the ones we are proposing are dramatic changes, they will change the culture here,” Murie insisted.

One of the changes MADD is recommending is to establish a code of ethics to specify disciplinary measures for all elected officials convicted of drinking and driving.

Former Deputy Premier Don McMorris was charged with impaired driving on Aug. 5.

Murie said the recommendation isn’t targeted at Don McMorris but that there are politicians across the country who get involved with impaired driving.

“If every place has a code of conduct, then it’s much easier to deal with,” Murie said.

However, Justice Minister Wyant believes enough was done when dealing with the incident.

“Certainly the Premier reacted in the most appropriate way when Mr. McMorris was arrested,” Wyant Said.

“Any requirement to remove a member from the legislature would require a change in the legislation and that’s not something that we’re currently considereing.”

MADD Canada is also recommending establishing a .00 per cent blood alcohol content for drivers under 21.

Saskatchewan has the highest rate of drunk driving in the country.