GRAND FALLS - Premier David Alward says there has been a "relaxation" in the attitudes of New Brunswickers towards drinking and driving and that a crackdown is necessary to curb that sentiment.
Alward made the comments after a cabinet meeting in Grand Falls on Wednesday when asked about Hampton provincial court Judge Henrik Tonning's pledge to jail all drunk drivers in court before him.
"That's not for me to support or not support, it's a decision he is taking," Alward said. "But I believe we needed tough drunk driving legislation, we have seen a relaxation from people with drinking and driving, and that is one of the reasons why we brought forward tougher legislation.
"There is no secret what my position is on drunk driving and as a government we have already come forward with tougher rules for those who choose to drink and drive."
Starting June 24, drivers will have their licence suspended for a week if they are caught with a roadside breathalyzer reading between 0.05 and 0.08 - even though they're below the legal limit.
The change is under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act. Currently, the suspension is only 24 hours.
The legal blood alcohol concentration limit in Canada is 0.08 per cent.
Judge Tonning's decision on tougher penalties comes as a rising number of Kings County people were getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink. For months now Crown prosecutors in the region have been asking judges for mandatory jail time for first-time impaired driving convictions and some of them have had success in getting the sentence handed down.
Alward was in Grand Falls for what was a cabinet field day of sorts after the province's ministers met behind closed door on Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday morning.
It was the second time the Alward cabinet was on the road, after it first held a meeting in Eel River Bar earlier this year.
Ministers fanned out over the community. Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud was said to have visited a bio technology research centre at the local community college.
Environment Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney headed to Laforge Farms, a 600-acre dairy operation in Grand Falls with a $2.35 million biomass energy project aimed at generating enough energy to run 200 homes annually.
Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup checked out a local fish growing operation. Energy Minister Craig Leonard was to be on a tour of the Grand Falls Generating Station.
Education Minster Jody Carr was said to be visiting a local school.
Alward met with a local francophone school before meeting with stakeholders in the area over lunch. He then zip lined over the Grand Falls gorge with local MLA Danny Soucy, and was later scheduled to take a ride on a pontoon boat that navigates the waters he rocketed over hours before.
Alward said the day was part of a citizen engagement pledge.
"We will continue to do it because it gives MLAs and cabinet ministers a better appreciation of each region of the province, but at the same time it gives people in the regions a chance to have contact and understand what is going on as well," he said.
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