Doug - those laws have been on the books for years now - and have been quite effective...[/I]".
from:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2013001/article/11739-eng.htm
History of selected amendments to the Criminal Code
1921: Parliament creates, under the Criminal Code, the summary conviction offence of driving while intoxicated.
1969: The 1921 offence of driving while intoxicated is repealed. The offence of driving while impaired is retained and the “exceeds 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood” offence and the refusal to provide a breath sample on an “approved instrument” offence are added as summary conviction offences.
1985: The prohibition of operating a vehicle while impaired is extended to aircraft and vessels. The maximum sentence is raised to 14 years where impaired operation causes death and to 10 years where it causes bodily harm. A mandatory driving prohibition period is introduced and some adjustments are made to penalties.
1999: Driving with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 160 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood becomes an aggravating factor. Judges can now impose treatment or the use of an ignition interlock device. Driving prohibition periods are increased and the minimum fine for a first impaired driving offence is raised from $300 to $600.
2000: The maximum penalty for impaired driving causing death is increased to life imprisonment.
2008: The minimum fine for a first offence is raised from $600 to $1,000. The minimum penalty for a second offence goes from 14 days to 30 days and for a subsequent offence, from 90 days to 120 days. Also, Parliament introduces new provisions limiting recourse to the so-called “two-beer” defence, which allowed the defence to dispute the results of samples by bringing in an expert to assess the state of inebriation based on the number of drinks consumed, the physical characteristics of the accused and the amount of time during which alcohol was consumed (Department of Justice Canada 2008). Moreover, police are now allowed to perform roadside analysis and assessment of drivers suspected of drug impairment.