Mr. Speaker, in December Statistics Canada reported the rate of people charged with impaired driving dropped in 1994 for the 11th consecutive year. More important, over the last decade there has been a steady drop in the number of alcohol related deaths.
Statistics Canada attributes the decrease mainly to a slow change in social norms brought about by government campaigns and the involvement of community groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Many of the people involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving are volunteers who have lost relatives and loved ones to the senseless carnage of drunk drivers. The efforts of these volunteers are most praiseworthy and laudable.
Impaired driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in this country. It has a far greater impact on society than any other crime.
We are still losing four Canadians a day because of impaired driving. These are preventable deaths.
We must continue the campaign until all Canadians know that impaired driving is not acceptable in Canada.