The Government of Alberta will be going ahead with the changes to the current drunk driving legislation with a new bill despite the similar laws being struck down in B.C.
The B.C. Supreme Court ruled the high costs and lengthy roadside suspensions imposed on drivers that fail blood-alcohol tests are unconstitutional.
Alberta's Justice Minister insists that the proposed changes are different than the ones rejected in B.C.
Under the Alberta plan, drivers face an immediate 90 day driving ban, their vehicle impounded for 30 days and must pay roughly $4,000 in costs.
The new bill also means harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
Minister of Transportation Ray Danyluk says the bill is about making roads safer. "I think it's more important we look at what we're trying to achieve and what we are trying to achieve is to address the repeat offenders."
Opposition MPs, however, are looking for some key changes before the new bill becomes law.
They're saying that more consultation should happen before the bill goes through.
Kent Hehr, Liberal critic says that he'd like to see legislation, which appears to be going through very quickly, go through an all party committee where the bugs can be sorted through.
A Calgary MLA, whose father was killed by a drunk driver in India, says he almost died a crash two years ago.
"I intimately feel the pain and impact. The pain it has in the individuals and the families who have lost loved ones in accidents caused by drunk drivers," says Darshan Kang.
The controversial bill is expected to have a third and final reading in legislature on Thursday.
