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The province notes Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and the Northwest Territories have proposed or added some form of licence suspension for distracted driving. Those penalties range from 24 hours to 90 days, depending on the number of offences. Fines and demerits for distracted driving are in place for every Canadian province and territory except Nunavut, which will add legislation that prohibits handheld electronics while driving this December.

Schuler hinted Manitoba’s crackdown may also increase existing penalties.

“Every day that we don’t do something to get the message out that there are going to be very serious consequences (that could) cost lives,” he said.

Winnipeg Police Service traffic Insp. Gord Spado sees the suspensions as a “good next step” to persuading drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

“People are not getting the message that driving and texting is dangerous. It is one of the leading causes of collisions in Manitoba. As much as we live in a culture of cellphones and instant access, it’s time to change that culture because driving needs your full attention,” said Spado.

Spado said WPS handed out nearly 4,700 distracted driving tickets in 2016 and just under 4,000 in 2017.

A key drivers’ association also welcomed the suspension proposal.

“Our members are extremely concerned and they think (distracted driving) is up there with, if not worse, than drinking and driving,” said Mike Mager, president of CAA Manitoba.

Though the bill was introduced in the legislature Friday, it won’t be fully released until Monday, which limits what the province can reveal about it. That’s because Manitoba’s NDP opposition used procedural delays to interrupt government business on Friday, arguing Tory cabinet ministers are making members statements on new bills before opposition gets the chance to read them.

jpursaga@postmedia.com

Twitter: @pursagawpgsun