Dear Centennial Community,
I hope you and your families are doing well. It is just about summer and I am excited to be spending time this month in our community whether it’s at local events or festivals! I am looking forward to seeing you all soon!
Ontario Taking Impaired Drivers Off the Road
We have seen too many families whose lives have been torn apart by the careless behaviour of impaired drivers. Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to speak to mothers who have lost loved ones as a result. That is why our government is introducing tough new measures to crack down on impaired driving by:
● Requiring those convicted of impaired driving to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle and undergo mandatory remedial education and treatment for first and second-time alcohol and drug related offenses respectively.
● Imposing a lifetime license suspension for those convicted of impaired driving causing death.
● Increasing immediate roadside license suspensions for first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offenses.
● Providing additional tools and training to help police officers detect drug-impaired driving and launch a province wide campaign to highlight the dangers, with a focus on cannabis and young drivers.
One Fare Surpasses 5 Million Transfers
After only a few months since we launched One Fare, we have already seen more than 5 million free transfers by transit users across the GTA! I have heard so many stories from residents in our community who are benefitting from this program. This is an incredible milestone and marks the success of Ontario’s One Fare Program.
Combatting Auto Theft
I know how concerned the community has been as auto thefts and carjackings are on the rise across Ontario, which is why our government continues to take steps in order to crack down on auto theft by suspending driver’s licenses for people convicted of the crime. This is just one additional step in our plan to help deter potential thieves and make it more challenging for criminals to reoffend.
Last year, our government invested $51 million to help police identify and dismantle organized crime networks and put thieves behind bars.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office at 8130 Sheppard Ave. East Unit 105, by email at vijay.thanigasalam@pc.ola.org, or give us a call at 416-283-8448.
Vijay Thanigasalam, MPP Scarborough-Rouge Park