As part of an ongoing campaign to both discourage Manitobans from drinking and driving and hold impaired drivers accountable, the provincial government is bringing in a new set of rules for impaired drivers whose actions cause death or bodily harm.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced that drivers convicted of impaired operation related offences causing or resulting in bodily harm or death will be prohibited afterward from driving with any alcohol in their blood at all. Breaches of the restriction will result in penalties which mirror those that apply to drivers with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.08 per cent under the Immediate Roadside Prohibition Program, including additional licence suspensions and monetary penalties ranging from $400 to $600 based on the number of offences, and may also include vehicle impoundment and other measures that escalate with the number of breaches.
“Drinking and driving has no place on our roads or in our province. Today we stand alongside all Manitobans who are committed to making drinking and driving a thing of the past,” said Wiebe. “Impaired driving is a serious threat to public safety, and these measures will increase road safety and protect people in communities across the province. Our government is committed to fighting for safer roads and stronger penalties for people who drive drunk.”
The province introduced legislation in December 2024 to strengthen consequences for drivers convicted of impaired operation related offences that cause or result in bodily harm or death. Bill 5, the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Impaired Driving Measures), became law in June 2025. It immediately implemented an automatic lifetime licence suspension for people convicted twice within 10 years, an increase from the previous 10-year ban for repeat offenders.
This year, the province also introduced legislation that would implement an automatic lifetime alcohol prohibition for anyone who has been convicted more than once in 10 years of impaired driving or refusing to provide a breath sample.
