CFIB Calls for Consultation on Impaired Driving Law

Effectiveness of proposed law questionable, but small business would be seriously impacted
On November 21st the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) called on Premier Redford to engage in a meaningful consultation with small businesses in the hospitality sector before her government enacts proposed new impaired driving legislation.
The Alberta government is expected to introduce a new law this week similar to one in B.C. that allows license suspensions and vehicle seizures for drivers whose blood-alcohol level is found to be below the legal limit of 0.08 but above 0.05. However, a growing number of small business owners in the hospitality industry are concerned the new law will not effectively help prevent and punish impaired drivers, but instead have serious and ongoing impact on the viability of their businesses.
“Like other Albertans, small businesses support the enforcement of strong laws to punish drunk drivers and renewed efforts to find effective prevention strategies. But while it's not clear if the new law in B.C. had a meaningful impact on the impaired driving issue, it most definitely has significantly impacted many small businesses in the hospitality sector that are already struggling with a weakening economy, ongoing labour shortages and government imposed minimum wage hikes”, said Richard Truscott, Alberta Director.
B.C. implemented their system of administrative penalties without consultation and has caused considerable confusion for the public about whether it is permissible to even have a glass of wine when dining out. Some restaurant and pub owners in B.C., especially outside the lower mainland, have reported losses between 10 to 50 per cent.
Experts are also raising doubts about the effectiveness of administrative penalties. The president of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, Robyn Robertson, stated last week that Alberta already has a “good structure” in place to deal with impaired drivers. Robertson believes the province should instead adopt more effective enforcement strategies for drivers who violate the existing laws, especially repeat offenders and younger drivers who are impaired.
Truscott pointed out Alberta already has some of the strongest zero-alcohol tolerance licensing rules for new drivers in Canada, thereby effectively targeting this high-risk segment. “We are eager to work with government to facilitate a meaningful consultation before any new laws are passed. Ultimately, the goal should be to ensure effective enforcement strategies to combat impaired driving without such a negative impact on small businesses”, concluded Truscott.


About CFIB: As Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 108,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.