Standing Committee on Justice Policy
in refernce to:
Bill 117, Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Child Passengers on Motorcycles), 2008

Public policy is upposed to be the will of the people and the Ontario Governmernt needs to understand where YOU stand on this Bill.

See below for instructions.....

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Here is a excerpt from a letter from an MPP in response to one of our members:

"Bill 117 represents yet one more nanny-state piece of legislation by a member of the McGuinty government, and typifies their relentless assault on families and individual responsibility. Clearly this government does not feel that parents and grandparents in Ontario can exercise responsibility to make decisions when it comes to the well-being of their own families.

This legislative interference into matters of personal responsibility and the lack of respect for the individual distresses me greatly, and I will continue to advocate in the Legislature for our freedom to make our own judgments and decisions on matters affecting our lives, and that government limit itself to its democratic responsibilities.   I will not support Bill 117."

Here is a sample letter to get your creative juices flowing...

To:Your MPP

From: You

Re: Helena Jaczek MPP for Markham -- Private Members Bill 117

As a motorcyclists living and paying taxes in the province of Ontario, I do not support Bill 117, An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit riding a motorcycle with child passengers under 14 years of age, introduced by Helena Jaczek MPP for Markham as a private members bill.

This proposed bill is not based on any scientific research and she did not even ask people who ride what they thought of this.Motorcycles in Canada are designed for the safe use of riders and passengers and this MPP is trying to take away my right to enjoy what I consider to be a great experience with my kids.

With the cost of fuel and the economic challenges families face everyday there are thousands of people in Ontario now using motorcycles and scooters as an economical means of transportation to commute to work, pick up kids and run errands. There needs to be serious consideration given to the damage Bill 117 can do to families who are already facing tough economic times.

"Here is the quote from a letter sent by Raynald Marchand, General Manager of the Canada Safety Council to Helena Jaczek, MPP Oak Ridges-Markham, the Premier and the Minister of Transportation."It is the CSC's position that there is no statistical evidence to support this legislation."… ' I reviewed all seven Ontario Road Safety Annual Reports from 1999 to 2005. I did not find any fatalities for motorcycle passengers less than 14 years of age. I also looked at injuries for motorcycle passengers less than 16 years of age and compared them to bicycle passengers less than 16 years of age and car passengers less than 16 years of age over the same period (1999 to 2005). Ontarian children were four times (4x) more likely to have been injured as passengers on bicycles and 262 times more likely to have been injured as passengers in passenger vehicles than to have been injured as passengers on motorcycles."

Bill 117 has created a lot of turmoil in the riding community. Family trips are in jeopardy and tourists from other provinces and states are wondering how they can plan trips across Canada if they have to detour around Ontario. So much for tourism in Ontario, or for that matter so much for parents being able to ecide what's best for their own families.

I am asking you as my MPP to vote against Bill 117 on December 4, 2008 during private members business.

Regards,

The addresses, telephone numbers, Fax numbers and Email addresses for all members of the Legislature can be found at http://www.ontla.on.ca under the heading "Current MPPs".