OTTAWA - Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould on Monday approved a first screening device to detect the presence of certain drugs during roadside checks.
The "Dräger DrugTest 5000" will be used to detect, from saliva samples, the presence of THC, the main psychotropic substance of cannabis, and cocaine.
The device will now be made available to police across the country as an "additional tool" if they suspect a drug is in a driver's body.
"The percentage of Canadian drivers who are fatally injured in vehicle crashes and who have positive drug outcomes has already exceeded the percentage of those who test positive for alcohol. Police are already trained to detect the signs and symptoms of impaired driving, "said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, in a statement.
"The Government of Canada is providing $ 81 million to the provinces and territories to support the purchase of approved screening devices, as well as training and capacity building," he added.
Police authorities will be trained in the use of this new device by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) "in the coming weeks".
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