moved for leave to introduce Bill C-261, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (failure to stop at scene of accident).
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Thunder Bay—Rainy River again for seconding this important bill.
The legislation would amend the Criminal Code. A person in control of a vehicle, or a vessel or an aircraft who was involved in an accident and who failed to stop at the scene of that accident would be guilty of a separate stand-alone offence within the Criminal Code.
The bill would provide harsh penalties. If a person suffered bodily harm and died as a result of an accident, or if a person suffered bodily harm but was not killed in an accident, the legislation would contemplate a minimum punishment of four years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. These provisions would apply whether or not the person was aware that another person suffered bodily harm by virtue of their actions.
This is strongly worded legislation that has been crafted to address a serious shortcoming in the current Criminal Code.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)