‘Ludicrous’: Family of impaired driving victim feels proposed changes to legislation don’t go far enough

An advocates says a new bill that would bring harsher penalties for impaired driving convictions doesn’t go far enough.

The family of a Winnipeg woman who was killed by an impaired driver feels the province isn’t doing enough to combat repeat offenders.

Jordyn Reimer, 24, was killed in May 2022 after the vehicle she was driving was struck by a truck being driven by a drunk driver. Reimer was the designated driver for her friends that night.

The driver of the truck, Tyler Goodman, pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and was sentenced to seven years in jail.

The Manitoba government is looking to amend some of the impaired driving measures under Bill 5.

One of those amendments would see a lifetime licence suspension if someone were convicted of causing bodily harm or death while driving impaired twice in a 10-year period.

Karen Reimer, Jordyn’s mom, feels that doesn’t go far enough.

“I think that is ludicrous. Why are we giving people a second kick at the can to kill somebody?” asked Reimer. “I say one and done. You kill somebody the first time, you don’t get your licence back. The suspension should be a lifetime suspension.”

Reimer wants the government to be harsher on the amendment. She is calling for a five-year licence ban for first-time offenders who don’t hurt or kill someone when driving impaired, followed by a lifetime ban if they are caught a second time.

If the impaired driving incident involves hurting or killing someone, she wants their licence to be taken away for life.

Reimer said if someone shot and killed someone else, they wouldn’t receive a gun when they got out of prison. She feels the same rule should apply to impaired driving.

“We have this complacency to accept and recognize that a vehicle is a weapon when you’re impaired, and so we shouldn’t be soft on this kind of crime. This kind of crime wreaks havoc and destruction on families, and it kills people time and time again. But somehow, we are soft on it and turning a blind eye. There are significant other ways to have an impact.”

Reimer presented her concerns and proposed amendments at a public forum to the Justice Committee Tuesday evening. She said it felt like her concerns were not heard or addressed appropriately.

“We should be banding together as Manitobans, and we should be making decisions collaboratively, and it does not feel like they really want victims or the public’s input.”

Speaking at the legislature Wednesday, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the main goal with this proposed legislation is to offer a real deterrent against impaired driving, something he feels is being achieved.

“No one piece of legislation or one amendment will solve the issue of impaired driving, but what I will say is what we brought forward, we’re confident that it will be solid in the courts and it will be something that will offer that deterrence to those who choose to drive drunk,” said Wiebe.

When making changes to legislation, Wiebe said they have to consider the changes will hold up in court.

“The important legal advice that we’ve been given is that a lifetime suspension after a first offence could be seen as a disproportionate response to the pursuit of having safer roads.”

Wiebe said he invites the Reimer family to continue to work with the government to look at further changes and improvements where needed.

If everything goes according to plan, Wiebe hopes to see the bill passed this spring.