Civil rights groups are worried that parts of the Liberal government鈥檚 recent recreational marijuana bill will give police sweeping new powers to combat impaired driving that will violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms鈥� protections against unreasonable searches.
Announced last week, the legislation includes an overhaul of existing impaired driving provisions.
鈥淗ave you had anything to drink tonight?鈥�
Anyone who has been pulled over by the police has likely been asked that question, but once the government鈥檚 new law on impaired driving takes effect, police won鈥檛 need to ask.
"I would be extremely surprised if there weren鈥檛 numerous Charter challenges,鈥� Noa Mendelsohn Aviv of the told 麻豆影视.
Currently, police can only demand a breathalyzer test if they have 鈥渞easonable suspicion鈥� a driver is impaired, based on signs like slurred speech, the smell of alcohol or the admission of drinking.
The government鈥檚 new law does away with that requirement, meaning that any motorist can be asked to take a breath test without such police suspicion.
"This bill is going after people who are not necessarily drunk who don't show any signs of being drunk or being impaired,鈥� Mendelsohn Aviv said.
That could also unfairly target visible minorities who, research suggests, get pulled over by police more often.
鈥淭hese sort of discretionary no-rule powers are disproportionately employed on marginalized groups, on racialized groups, on minorities and on the poor,鈥� criminal lawyer Michael Spratt told 麻豆影视. 鈥淎nd that is dangerous.鈥�
Last year, the same changes were proposed by MP and Conservative leadership hopeful Steven Blaney, who thinks mandatory testing is both legal and effective.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving also supports the change, saying in an that "mandatory alcohol screening... is one of the single most effective measures Canada can adopt to reduce impaired driving.鈥�
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says she is confident that the new law will be deemed constitutional. Civil liberties groups, however, are promising to oppose it, saying that the real test will come in the courts.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 senior political correspondent Glen McGregor
