Justice committee  Absolutely, we need to do something. I mean, we're losing about 1,500 people a year to impaired driving, and I don't know what it comes down to. I have been fighting for change now for 12 years, and there's still so much more that needs to be done, because we continue to lose people.

Justice committee  Well, we've seen too many times as well that it's not a first offence. Police have told us that for every person they stop who is impaired, 100 more get away, and we continue to see the stats rise. We have had repeat offenders who have had three and four and five impaired driving charges against them, but who have been released on bail until they have finally killed someone.

Justice committee  Thank you very much for inviting me to be here today. On December 27, 2022, the killing of an Ontario Provincial Police officer brought renewed scrutiny to Canada's bail system. Before the shooting death of Constable Greg Pierzchala in Ontario, the 25-year-old suspect, Randall McKenzie, was wanted by police for missing an August court date.

Justice committee  I sincerely wish that they were considered. Most of the time, the plea deals have already been decided on and the sentencing range has already been decided on. People spend hours writing and rewriting this, and then it is taken and briefly read. Does it make a difference? I don't know that it does in sentencing.

Justice committee  I can guarantee you that the accused has more rights than the victim. When we go to court, we're allowed to read a victim impact statement. We have to keep it very brief, but then it is handed in before we actually go, if you're fortunate enough to get a trial. The accused and the defence lawyer get to read our victim impact statement before we're allowed to read it in court.

Justice committee  For me, it took three years to get some therapy. It didn't work out well with the first therapist, and I had to find someone else for a second try. When your loved one is killed by an impaired driver, there's really nowhere to turn. Families just don't know what to do. Their whole world has just collapsed, and there doesn't seem to be much out there for them.

Justice committee  I think that would be wonderful for families. Families have so many questions, and so many questions never seem to be answered. I think people will let you know the information that they're looking for, what they want and what they need. To basically be kept out of the loop of everything is even more traumatizing for families.

Justice committee  Thank you very much, honourable members of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Thank you for allowing me to be here today. My name is Markita Kaulius. I am the founder and president of Families for Justice. I am here today representing thousands of Canadian families who have lost our children and loved ones, killed by impaired drivers in Canada.

Justice committee  I've been fighting for changes in the laws now for seven years. Members of the Conservative Party were very open to hearing what we said, but the Liberals—I'm sorry, I'm being honest here—the Liberal government has not been very welcoming. We've asked for meetings. We've been turned down.

Justice committee  Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to be here today. The federal government is proposing changes to reduce penalties for many serious crimes in Canada. The proposed changes are part of Bill C-75, which contains more than 300 pages of sweeping changes to the Criminal Code of Canada.

Justice committee  I've been going out to schools and talking to high school students about impaired driving. One of the questions I ask them during my presentation is how many students have either drunk alcohol or smoked marijuana and gotten into a vehicle or driven themselves. I ask them to give me a show of hands.

Justice committee  Can I make one comment?

Justice committee  I did. I would like to show it, if I may.

Justice committee  I would like you to take a look at this canvas, please. These are pictures of the families that Families for Justice has been working with. I started with 12 pictures in the first year and added 15 in the second. I added 20 last year, and I added 20 this year. In the six years that we've been waiting, we could have made 60 of these banners.

Justice committee  Definitely, the penalties in this new bill are quite a bit lower. There are no mandatory minimums. I've been at this now for six and a half years, almost seven years, and I'm still trying to get something that everybody says should be a no-brainer. This is public safety that people are talking about and Canadians are asking for, and they're wondering why our government does not take this as seriously as it should.