Conservatives say 'NO' to safer roads in Ontario

QUEEN'S PARK - Today, Ford's Conservatives voted against the Ontario NDP's plan to take long overdue action to fully protect vulnerable road users in Ontario by voting against Bill 40, the Moving Ontarians Safely Act.

"Today the government said Ontario's streets are safe when it voted against Bill 40, but the 4,478 pedestrians or cyclists hurt or killed by reckless drivers in 2022 tell a different story," said Official Opposition NDP Critic for Active Transportation Joel Harden (Ottawa Centre).

Bill 40 was set to introduce harsher penalties for drivers who injure or kill a pedestrian, road worker or cyclist. Proposed fines in the bill included license suspension, requirements that the driver hear victim impact statements, driver re-education training, and community service with a road safety group.

"There should be no acceptable level of road violence in Ontario," added Harden. "Everyone should travel safely in our communities. It was a shameful lack of leadership, but we won't stop fighting for change."

Currently, drivers who kill or seriously injure pedestrians due to careless driving are charged under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act and typically walk away with little or no fines.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES:

Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest):

"I am very disappointed that today the government has voted down the Moving Ontarians Safely Act, Bill 40. This was a fair, even-handed piece of legislation meant to bring more accountability into cases where road users are injured by unsafe driving. I had hoped that this government could look past partisan matters to support meaningful legislation that would make our roads safer. However, we will persist in advocating for measures that protect lives on our roads.”