THUNDER BAY – As Canada gears up for Canada Day long weekend celebrations, MADD Canada reminds everyone: the best way to show national pride is by staying sober behind the wheel.
Reporting news across Northwestern Ontario, one of the more frequent reports is of impaired drivers. It is an easily preventable criminal matter, drinking and driving can stop instantly as long as people start treating the situation with respect.
If the driver has been drinking, don’t be a passenger. As a party host, make sure no one leaves your party and drives drunk.
However, and sadly, every long weekend, despite widespread awareness campaigns, people continue to drive impaired. Think you’re better at driving drunk than sober? Think again. Impaired driving kills—and the consequences extend far beyond immediate danger.
Why Impaired Driving Still Happens?
Every hour in Canada, about nine impaired-driving charges or licence suspensions are laid—averaging 215 per day. Behind each statistic lies a family’s heartbreak, a community’s pain, and often, a lifelong ripple effect of loss.
Tanya Hansen Pratt, President of MADD Canada, whose mother was killed in 1999 by an impaired driver, emphasizes:
“Holidays like Canada Day can be heartbreaking reminders of what’s been lost. The best way we can honour their pain is by preventing it from happening to someone else.”
Know the Penalties — And What Follow
Even a first offence for driving over the legal blood-alcohol limit (0.08% or higher) brings serious penalties:
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Criminal penalties: Mandatory minimum 1-year licence suspension, fines starting at $1,000, and possible jail time.
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Ignition Interlock Program: Once eligible, drivers must install and pay for a device that prevents ignition if alcohol is detected.
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Driving Record & Insurance: Convictions lead to a criminal record, surcharges, and soaring insurance premiums—making it hard or costly to drive again.
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Lifetime consequences: Impaired driving convictions can affect travel, employment, and personal life, opening doors to long-term financial and social hardship.
Repeat offences carry even harsher penalties—longer suspensions, bigger fines, and jail sentences.
Plan Ahead — It’s Not Just About Driving
This Canada Day, when fireworks and parades remind us to celebrate in style, remember that safety is part of the celebration:
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Never drink—or use cannabis—before driving any vehicle, including boats or ATVs.
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Have a sober driver or plan alternate transportation early: taxi, Uber, public transit, or a designated ride service.
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Use MADD Canada’s Lyft or Uber partnership—a quick, reliable, sober ride home is just a tap away.
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Stay alert: If you see someone driving erratically, don’t hesitate—call 911 and report suspected impairment.
Celebrate Responsibly — Protect Lives and Community
This Canada Day, honour the Red and White responsibly. Arrange your ride home before the party starts, stay alert on the road, and refuse to ride with anyone who’s impaired.
Every decision matters—yours could save a life.
