In the wake of a deadly accident involving an overcrowded van, Ontario's transportation minister introduced legislation Monday to make it mandatory for every person travelling in a vehicle to be wearing a seatbelt.

Donna Cansfield called the province's decades-old seatbelt laws "ludicrous."

Four people died when the minivan shown above collided with a tractor-trailer. There were 10 people in the vehicle and only seven seatbelts.
(CBC)

The deaths of four people in a crash between a minivan and tractor-trailer over the weekend in the Caledon area, northwest of Toronto, highlighted loopholes in the law.

The minivan was carrying 10 people, but had only seven seatbelts. Nine passengers were South Korean tourists. Police have not released their identities pending notification of family.

Currently, it is legal for Ontario drivers to carry more passengers than there are seatbelts, provided all seatbelts are being used and the excess passengers aren't inhibiting the driver.

Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield proposed changes to the province's seatbelt laws that would make it illegal for there to be more passengers in a vehicle than there are seatbelts.
(CBC)

Brian Patterson of the Ontario Safety League applauded the proposed legislation.

"There's going to be less confusion in people's minds," he said. "You're in a vehicle, you're in a seatbelt. No exemptions, no changes, no special features.

"This is clarity that some people need to get themselves moving forward in a safer way."

It's the second time in a year that a fatal crash has drawn attention to the loophole.

In November 2005, 13-year-old Cameron Smith died in an SUV accident on the Queensway in Ottawa. There were eight passengers and just five seatbelts. 

The bill introduced by Cansfield Monday still requires all-party approval, but both the Progressive Conservative and New Democratic parties expressed support for its speedy passage.