HILL COMMENDS QUICK PASSAGE OF IGNITION INTERLOCK BILL

December 7, 2001

OTTAWA-Today in the House of Commons, Jay Hill, MP (Prince George-Peace River) commended all parties for their agreement to debate and pass Bill C-46, an amendment to the criminal code dealing with alcohol ignition interlock devices, in a single day. 

“There is universal support for this Bill from all parties in the House of Commons which is why we are able to move expeditiously today to deal with all stages of the Bill and see it passed on to the Senate quickly”, stated Hill “hopefully it will become law by Christmas.” 

In expressing his support for Bill C-46, Hill also reminded the government that it was he who had first introduced similar legislation in the House in 1997 as a Private Members Bill C-266, an Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Alcohol sensing ignition control for automobiles). 

“This bill is important to me as an individual parliamentarian as I had  introduced a Private Members Bill back on October 27, 1997, over four years ago.” Continued Hill, “ This issue has been supported, not only by myself in putting forward Private Members legislation, but by a lot of people over the years. The only question is why it takes the government so long to enact something for which it obviously has all party support.” 

“The introduction of this legislation is very timely given that we are entering the festive season. In this time of celebration I would like to remind all Canadians, if you have been drinking, please don’t drive.”  concluded Hill.