Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of my constituents and all those people who are affected by impaired driving. Bill C-18 is an act to amend the criminal code with regard to impaired driving causing death and other matters.
The bill has been long overdue and this weak Liberal government may not have introduced it if it were not up to hon. member for Prince George—Bulkley Valley, the proud point man of the Canadian Alliance.
Immediately after the election in 1997 I was contacted by one of my constituents and friends who told me the story of a couple of young men that had just graduated. They were having fun at a party. They got together in a pub and may have had a couple of beers. They decided not to drive home but to walk, which was the right thing to do. Their home was about one kilometre away. These youths were walking on the sidewalk on their way home when some drunk driver came from behind and lost control of his car. He ran over one of those kids and killed him on the spot. This incident did not affect only the family but it affected the whole community. It personally touched me.
Bill C-18 was brought to the House in a timely fashion by the justice minister. I congratulate the hon. for Prince George—Bulkley Valley for his efforts. The bill amends the criminal code by increasing the maximum penalty for impaired driving causing death to life imprisonment. It provides for the taking of blood samples for the purpose of testing for the presence of drugs and makes other amendments. I believe my constituents and all other Canadians will feel relieved that the bill has been introduced.
I will close by simply saying that I appreciate the efforts of the hon. member for Prince George—Bulkley Valley. I thank him for his efforts. Because of him we see some improvements. His efforts are paying off. I urge all hon. members to support the bill so that it will become law as soon as possible.