In the wake of yet another horrific high-speed crash that left two women dead, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty on Sunday defended his government's efforts to curb street racing while finding common ground with his arch election rival that the law won't, by itself, make Ontario's roads safer.
McGuinty said new legislation that automatically leads to a weeklong impounding of a vehicle caught doing more than 50 kilometres an hour over the posted speed limit along with severe fines was among the toughest in Canada.
"There is a small minority of people who drive recklessly and who represent a danger to themselves and others," McGuinty said.
"I want those Ontarians to understand we will stop at nothing to find out who you are, to track you down, and to ensure that you suffer the consequences."
Since the law took effect a week ago, close to 300 motorists have seen their vehicles impounded for breaking the law. Several were clocked doing more than 200 kilometres an hour.
Nevertheless, on Saturday, a horrible five-vehicle crash near Brampton, Ont., claimed the lives of two women and left seven injured.
Police allege two men were driving at speeds of up to 140 kilometres an hour in an 80-kilometre zone when one smashed into the car carrying 49-year-old Cynthia Dougherty of Beeton and 44-year-old Maria Dalsass of Palgrave.
Two brothers, driving separate cars, have been charged over the deadly mayhem.
McGuinty said people need to understand the consequences of reckless driving.
"We need a lot more public education," McGuinty said.
"The public has to understand: If you speed at that kind of rate of speed, and if you engage in anything that's even approaching racing, you're going to be very harshly dealt with."
Although he criticized the Liberal government for delays in implementing the law, Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory praised the legislation.
Like McGuinty, however, Tory said it was not enough on its own to deter dangerous driving.
Besides having adequate law enforcement on the streets, Tory said Crown attorneys are going to have to ensure that those caught speed racing aren't allowed to plea bargain the charges away.
Far too many motorists now caught drunk driving get off lightly because they make deals with prosecutors to plead guilty to lesser offences, he said.
"With the street racing, we can't do that," Tory said. "You're charged with 50 over and you are convicted, you pay the price."
The default position of the Crown should be "no deals" and that should be the position of the government, Tory said.
Campaigning in west-end Toronto Sunday, NDP Leader Howard Hampton criticized the street-racing legislation as "photo-op material."
He said motorists will continue to speed because they see their chances of getting caught as pretty slim.
Instead, Hampton urged a return to an earlier method of deterring speeders.
"What you need to have is photo radar," Hampton said.
"Just the thought that the van parked on the side of the road up there might be photo radar is enough to slow people down."
In other campaign news, McGuinty is disapproving of the tone of a new Progressive Conservative campaign ad that attacks the premier for mismanaging the health-care system.
In Markham on Sunday, McGuinty took issue with the hard-hitting ads that he first viewed Saturday night while watching hockey with his son. McGuinty says he never would have approved ads like that. He insists he's waging a positive campaign.
Observers are keeping a close eye on a southwestern Ontario riding for what could be a political first.
Recent polls suggest Conservative incumbent MP Bill Murdoch in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, has Green candidate Shane Jolley trailing him by just nine points.
Jolley is a married father of three who sells organic clothing out of a bicycle shop in Owen Sound.
Green Leader Frank de Jong abruptly changed his weekend itinerary to spend time in Owen Sound to support Jolley's bid to become the first Ontario or federal Green member elected.
And, supporters of the electoral reform in Wednesday's referendum are pulling out all the stops.
One hundred and forty-five professors from across Ontario have endorsed the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform's recommendation of a mixed-member proportional system.
On Sunday, a group calling itself "Doctors for Democracy" held an event in downtown Toronto aimed at curing "electoral dysfunction and dissatisfaction."
The MMP option faces a stiff test of 60 per cent voter support needed to pass.
Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
