The Manitoba government is strengthening impaired driving laws, including introducing lifetime alcohol restrictions and licence suspensions for repeat offenders.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced the measures, which target drivers convicted of impaired operation offences that cause bodily harm or death. Under the changes, certain offenders will be permanently prohibited from driving with any alcohol in their system.
“Drinking and driving has no place on our roads or in our province,” Wiebe said in a release. “Impaired driving is a serious threat to public safety, and these measures will increase road safety and protect people in communities across the province.”
The province said violations of the zero blood alcohol concentration (BAC) condition will carry penalties similar to those under Manitoba’s Immediate Roadside Prohibition program. That includes additional licence suspensions and fines ranging from $400 to $600, depending on prior offences. Repeat breaches could also lead to vehicle impoundment, mandatory driver assessments or participation in the ignition interlock program.
The changes stem from Bill 5, the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Impaired Driving Measures), introduced in December 2024 and proclaimed into law in June 2025. The legislation increased penalties for repeat offenders, including an automatic lifetime licence suspension for individuals convicted of impaired driving twice within a 10-year period, replacing the previous 10-year ban.
The act also created a zero BAC requirement for certain offenders, which has now been fully implemented through accompanying regulations.
MADD Winnipeg welcomed the changes, calling them an important step toward improving road safety.
“This legislation is a significant victory for road safety in Manitoba,” said Trevor Enns, president of the organization. “By implementing stricter long-term licence restrictions and permanent suspensions for repeat offenders, the province is ensuring the consequences of impaired driving reflect the gravity of the harm caused.”
The province has also introduced additional legislation that would expand safety measures further, including a zero BAC requirement for drivers operating Class 1 to 4 vehicles, which include commercial licences.
The Manitoba government said the changes are part of ongoing efforts to reduce impaired driving and prevent serious injuries and fatalities on provincial roads.
