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EDMONTON — The new federal justice minister says the Conservative government is considering changes to impaired driving legislation in the Criminal Code.

But Peter MacKay, who only took over the portfolio earlier this month, wouldn’t say exactly what is being pondered as he headed into a meeting with crime victims in Edmonton.

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“I can tell you I did numerous trials on impaired driving cases, first as a defence lawyer and then prosecuting cases,” MacKay said Thursday, recalling his time working as a lawyer in Nova Scotia.

“I recall vividly a judge making a statement in a trial that I was prosecuting to the accused that driving down the road while under the effect of drugs or alcohol is no different than pointing a gun at another human being.”

MacKay said he wanted to meet with more victims of impaired driving before announcing the changes the government is contemplating.

One of the people MacKay met with Thursday was a mother whose 18-year-old son was one of three Alberta men killed in a crash where drunk driving was suspected.