Justice Minister Suzanne Anton issued the following statement in response to two Supreme Court of Canada decisions this morning related to B.C.’s immediate roadside prohibition (IRP) law:

“Our government believes strongly in our immediate roadside prohibition law, and we know it saves lives – 260 since September 2010, in fact.

“I'm pleased to see the court agree with our argument in the Wilson case and with the majority of our argument in the Goodwin case. I'm also encouraged that the court has not introduced any new concerns with the IRP program.

“Our belief is that the amendments our government made in June 2012 already address the constitutional issues noted in the court’s decision, and our intention is that the IRP program continue without interruption.

“That is our plan – to continue to have one of the toughest drinking driving laws in the country and to continue to protect public safety by getting these drivers off our roads.”