Bill proposing lifetime suspensions for some impaired drivers tabled during testy day at Manitoba Legislature

The Manitoba government is looking to bring in tougher penalties for people who are convicted of impaired driving offences that cause injury or death.

A bill introduced in the legislature Thursday would impose a lifetime licence suspension on a driver convicted of two such offences within a 10-year period.

That's an increase from the current 10-year suspension for a second offence. Currently, a driver convicted for the first time gets a five-year automatic licence suspension.

The proposed amendments to the Highway Traffic Act would also prohibit people convicted of these offences from driving with any alcohol in their blood for seven years after a first offence. A second conviction would carry a lifetime prohibition.

"The consequences of driving impaired are tragic — for the victims, for the families and the survivors," Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Thursday.

"Ten per cent of collisions in Manitoba have impaired driving as a contributing factor, and enough is enough."

The bill was introduced on the last day of the fall legislature sitting and is expected to be debated after politicians reconvene March 5.

The bill was welcomed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, known as MADD.

"We recognize that there is no one single piece of legislation that will solve impaired driving, and we welcome the government taking steps to deal with those offenders who cause the most serious harm," said Tanya Hansen Pratt, president of MADD Canada, whose mother was killed by an impaired driver.

The bill was introduced on the last day of a three-week session that frequently saw tensions rise between the governing New Democrats and Opposition Progressive Conservatives.

Tom Lindsey, the legislature Speaker, scolded both sides of the house Thursday for over-the-top heckling and other behaviour.

On Thursday, just after proceedings recessed for lunch, New Democrat cabinet minister Tracy Schmidt crossed the floor and confronted the Tories.

The Tories accused her of aggressively accosting one member, standing over him and pointing her finger down at him while telling him he should not be in the chamber.

"The language that was used, from a minister of the Crown, I've never seen anything like it. It was awful," said Grant Jackson, the Tory education critic. He did not provide details or identify which of his colleagues was confronted by Schmidt.