MADD Canada Letter to Ontario Attorney General Regarding Rahim Jaffer Case

March 10, 2010

The Honourable Chris Bentley
Attorney General of Ontario
McMurtry-Scott Building
720 Bay Street, 11th Floor
Toronto, ON, M5G 2K1

Dear Mr. Bentley:

We are writing to express our concern regarding the Rahim Jaffer case and particularly the withdrawal of impaired driving charges as part of a plea bargain reached on March 9, 2010 which resulted in Mr. Jaffer being convicted of the lesser charge of careless driving.

MADD Canada has been contacted by many citizens who are outraged about the reduction of these charges, and the appearance that Mr. Jaffer received a plea bargain as a result of his status as a former MP and his political connections.

We strongly recommend the Office of the Attorney General take the lead on this issue and explain to Canadians why these charges were reduced.

As an organization dedicated to stopping impaired driving, MADD Canada believes every impaired driving case should be pursued by the Crown Attorney in the appropriate jurisdiction to the fullest extent of the law. We believe the message delivered through strong penalties will help stop impaired driving. We also know that charges are sometimes reduced or downgraded based on the Crown’s assessment of the case and evidence. In this instance, and in the interest of public accountability to the millions of Canadians who are following this case, it is critical that answers be provided as to why the case did not proceed with the original charges, given that the evidence appeared to warrant and support the charges.

These are the questions being posed to our organization and we, in turn, pose them to your office. We await your response.

Sincerely,

Margaret Miller
National President, MADD Canada