The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL:

Mr. Speaker, too often, people in our province are seriously injured or killed because of irresponsible behaviour on our road ways. In many cases, this irresponsible behaviour leads to the unimaginable loss or injury of a parent, child, sibling, friend or neighbour. Whatever the relationship, individuals and families must live with the loss or suffering of their loved ones. Even more tragic is the fact that many of these incidents are preventable.

Words cannot express their devastation, and I commend people like Gail Thorne and her Stand for Hannah Foundation in their efforts to spread their road safety message, despite their suffering. I recently watched the powerful documentary on her daughter Hannah, and I want to express the profound impact it had on me and offer my condolences.

As Minister of the department responsible for the Highway Traffic Act, I feel strongly that these are the stories we must keep front and centre every day. Groups like Stand for Hannah have lobbied government to strengthen legislation to deter street racing and travelling at extremely high rates of speed on our highways. Their efforts culminated with Bill 27 in 2017 which strengthened the Act regarding such infractions as excessive speeding, street racing and stunting.

Mr. Speaker, I was struck by a line Gail said in the documentary that sums up all of our responsibilities as road users, “Always obey the rules.” If we all live by that simple message, incidents on our highways would undoubtedly decrease and people like Gail Thorne and her family would not have to live with such overwhelming loss.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.