Moms seek stricter DUI penalties
Two Alberta mothers united by similar tragedies are pushing for stricter penalties for drunk drivers — and now they have Calgary MP Devinder Shory in their corner.
Grace Pesa and Sheri Arsenault are petitioning for mandatory minimum sentences for convictions of impaired driving causing death. They also support Bill C- 652 which, if passed, would amend the Criminal Code charge of impaired driving causing death to vehicular homicide.
“Mr. Shory is 110 per cent on board,” said Arsenault on Wednesday afternoon after a meeting with the Calgary Northeast MP. “He fully supports our petition and is willing to present it in Ottawa and to further this as much as he can.”
Shory was not available for an interview. But according to his office, he expressed his support for the women’s efforts, and will present their petition — along with 500 signatures they presented to him — in Parliament when session resumes.
“And we will go to other MPs for support as well,” said Pesa, adding other politicians and law enforcement officials have also thrown their support behind their efforts.
Pesa’s son, Francis Pesa, was killed by an impaired driver in Calgary on New Year’s Day 2014.
Kulwinder Singh Chohan, 37, pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and was handed a three- year sentence in January. He is also prohibited from driving for another five years after he has finished serving his sentence.
Arsenault’s 18- year- old son Bradley Arsenault was killed, along with friends Thaddeus Lake, 22, and Kole Novak, 18, in a crash near Beaumont, Alta., on Nov. 26, 2011. Arsenault’s Pontiac Grand Am was struck from behind by a Dodge Ram travelling 199 km/ h.
Johnathan Pratt, the driver of the Ram, was found guilty of manslaughter and impaired driving causing death and sentenced to eight years in prison. He is appealing the conviction.
Arsenault, with advocacy group Families for Justice, said current sentences are “out of balance” and she believes Bill C- 652 is “a good start.”