Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006
Source: Independent & Free Press, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.thebramptonguardian.com/br/gi/home/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3144

PROVINCE RECOGNIZES FLAWS IN LAWS

Generally speaking, the rules of law are in place to ensure the 
public's safety. However, the Ontario government this week is taking 
action on two fronts to amend existing legislation after determining 
current laws are not protecting the public as well as once thought.

On Monday, the provincial government announced it is planning changes 
to the Liquor Licence Act-- changes that were prompted by attacks on 
women whose drinks had been spiked with date-rape drugs.

Currently, no one in a drinking establishment is allowed to carry 
their drink with them into a washroom. However, in the wake of 
several attacks on women who had left their drinks unattended and had 
knockout substances secretly slipped into those drinks, Gerry 
Phillips, Minister of Government Services, announced patrons will no 
longer have to leave their drinks while visiting the washroom.

While this simple change, which will be introduced tomorrow 
(Thursday), will not take affect for several months, it is a step 
towards protecting the public. The new law is not mandatory, but it 
is anticipated most bars will apply for the liquor licence change, 
which will come without additional costs.

The second, and more significant legislative change, concerns 
Ontario's seatbelt law.

In the wake of Saturday's horrifying crash in Caledon in which four 
people died, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield introduced 
legislation Monday that will make it mandatory that each person in a 
vehicle must wear a seatbelt.

Unbelieveably the existing legislation does not make it illegal for 
people to ride in a vehicle that doesn't have enough seatbelts.

Saturday's crash, which involved a minivan and tractor-trailer, saw 
10 people riding in the minivan which was equipped with only seven seatbelts.

The new "one-person, one-seatbelt" should receive speedy passage and 
close a loophole that should have been closed long ago-- a loophole 
that may have resulted in the needless deaths of four people.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine