Bill C-556 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (breath alcohol analysis)

This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2015.

Sponsor

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Nov. 28, 2013
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to authorize peace officers to require, at random or in the event of an accident involving a motor vehicle, any person who is operating that motor vehicle to provide a breath sample for analysis by means of an approved screening device.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

All House mentions

The Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

November 28th, 2013 / 10:05 a.m.

See context

NDP

Tarik Brahmi NDP Saint-Jean, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-556, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (breath alcohol analysis).

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce a bill that is designed to allow random breath testing.

This law will save lives throughout Canada by giving our police an additional tool in the fight against drinking and driving.

It is important to note that, in countries that use it, random breath testing has proved to be effective in deterring drunk individuals from getting behind the wheel.

Various stakeholders, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have been calling for this amendment to the Criminal Code for years. Some representatives from MADD are here in Parliament today.

I am encouraged by the fact that the government has already acknowledged that this is a top priority. I hope that members from all the parties will support this initiative, which will make our roads safer for Canadian families.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)