Transport ministers to talk distracted driving laws after road trip season

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“It’s largely provincial jurisdiction — unless it’s identified under the Criminal Code, in which case its federal. (But) we should have a conversation about that.”

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Garneau was in Mexico to sign a number of bilateral agreements, including one to mitigate the threat posed by drones that fly near passenger aircraft, as well as on increasing the number of flights between Canada and Mexico — with WestJet landing a long-sought flight spot.

Garneau said he also had what he called more general discussions about trade, including on the upcoming talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Provincial transport ministers have long been pressing the Liberal government to crack down on distracted driving by making it a federal offence.

A September 2016 briefing note to Garneau suggests officials are leery of the idea.

The Criminal Code already has dangerous driving provisions that include fines and prison time that police could use in distracted driving cases, Garneau was told. A federal law would require police to meet a “more stringent burden of proof than administrative infractions,” making prosecutions more difficult — and expensive.

Officials also rejected the idea of mandating radio-jamming devices in moving vehicles, noting their use is prohibited in Canada for public safety reasons.

The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the briefing note under the Access to Information Act.

Jordan Press, The Canadian Press