Manitoba has announced tougher penalties for impaired drivers. 

Justice Minister and Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says impaired drivers who are in a collision will be denied third-party liability coverage as of August 1st. That means that starting next month they will be responsible for covering the cost of any damage they cause to other vehicles or property.

"Our government is committed to holding impaired drivers accountable for damage caused by their actions and to keeping our roads safe for all Manitobans," says Goertzen. 

He notes far too many people are killed and injured every year in collisions caused by impaired drivers and notes that is why Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) will soon have the authority to recover costs for property or vehicle damage directly from these drivers.

Third-party liability covers damages caused to other vehicles and to personal or public property. Under the new rules, if an impaired driver causes damage to someone else's vehicle or property, MPI will cover the damages caused and then seek repayment from the impaired driver. This way, individuals whose property is damaged will continue to be compensated fully, as they are today. These changes will apply to drivers of all types of motor vehicles, including off-road vehicles.

The Personal Injury Protection Plan covers all Manitoba residents injured in an automobile accident anywhere in Canada and the United States. However, outside of Manitoba, an impaired driver is subject to the laws of the jurisdiction, meaning they could be responsible for covering the costs of all damage caused, including bodily injuries. 

"Manitoba already has among the toughest penalties in Canada for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs," says MPI Chairperson Ward Keith. "This announcement creates one more serious deterrent to impaired driving in Manitoba."

He says the message they are sending is that impaired driving is unacceptable in our province.

MADD Canada, whose mission is to stop impaired driving and support victims of this violent crime, applauded the addition of another disincentive in Manitoba and remains supportive of all initiatives to help prevent people from driving under the influence.

"Impaired driving is a choice someone makes, and a choice for which they should be held accountable," says Jaymie-Lyne Hancock, National President of MADD Canada. "We welcome this announcement from the Government of Manitoba and MPI. It is another strong consequence, in addition to the existing penalties, that individuals who choose to drive impaired will face."

Statistics show impaired driving is a factor in one in four road fatalities each year in Manitoba and is a contributing factor in approximately 26 deaths each year, on average. So far in 2023, seven people have been killed in collisions involving impaired driving on Manitoba roads.