The Ontario government is considering new measures that would require impaired drivers to pay ongoing child support if they kill a child's parent or guardian.
The proposals would build on the Safer Roads and Communities Act, which imposes lifetime licence suspensions for impaired driving causing death.
"No child should have to bear the weight of losing a parent to impaired driving," Attorney General Doug Downey said in a news release. "The devastating impact reaches far beyond the immediate loss - it can leave children struggling emotionally and financially."
He cited similar laws in places like Texas.
In 2023, Texas introduced similar requirements that impaired drivers convicted of "intoxication manslaughter" who have killed a child's parent or guardian pay child support until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school.
According to the provincial government, in 2021, Ontario recorded 182 impaired driving fatalities, including 96 from alcohol and 86 from drugs.
