Premier Doug Ford says his government will introduce legislation this fall to impose lifetime driving bans, mandatory jail time, and tougher penalties for reckless and impaired drivers, following the tragic death of a man killed by a repeat offender behind the wheel.
“This wasn’t an accident, it was murder,” Ford said this Friday, speaking alongside the family of Andrew Cristillo, a 35-year-old man killed by a driver who had previously been suspended and involved in a car crash with the Premier himself.
“The person who took Andrew’s life was reckless, careless, and didn’t care,” Ford said. “There’s going to be lifelong scars for the family. I promised them we would get through this together, and make sure this never happens to another family.”
The new measures, which Ford referred to as “Andrew’s Law,” could include:
- Immediate suspensions for serious charges like impaired or dangerous driving
- Lifetime driving bans for repeat offenders
- Mandatory minimum jail time (potentially 30 to 90 days) for driving while disqualified or unlicensed
- Mandatory driver education in high school before obtaining a license
- Expanded road safety programs in schools
Ford said the legislation will be introduced this fall and pushed through “by the end of the year.”
“We’re going to come down hard on this, just like we did with impaired driving,” he said. “If a lot of people are doing it, that’s all the more reason we need bigger deterrents.”
Andrew’s brother, Jordan, stood beside the premier and called the tragedy preventable.
“My brother Andrew was a fantastic man,” he said. “Having a premier who picks up the phone, who has your back, it gives you confidence in this country.”
Jordan said the family wants to ensure Andrew’s death leads to action: “ This means that my brother’s not dying in vain, and it means that this is gonna help save countless life going forward.”
Ford also promised support for Andrew’s wife Christina and their two young daughters, who are returning to school this fall.
“I saw pictures of the girls — they’re around the same age as my grandkids,” Ford said, his voice cracking. “It’s heart-wrenching. We’ll be there to support them and Christina at her job with the school board.”
When asked how the government would balance harsher penalties with due process, Ford said his government would differentiate between true accidents and “reckless, criminal behaviour.”
“There’s a difference between someone who makes a tragic mistake and someone who chooses to break the law and put lives at risk,” he said. “We’re reviewing all of it, and we’ll stay in close contact with the family throughout.”
Ford said consultations are ongoing with police forces across Ontario, including the OPP and municipal services, to determine the full scope of the changes.
“We’re going to give this law teeth,” he said.
