A New alcohol and cannabis laws now in effect » Drive high, get fined Tania Arora Staff Reporter lanning to drive while high? Get ready to pay a huge price. Impaired driving has been a major contributor to road accidents. Now, after the legalization of cannabis, the British Columbian government has implemented stricter rules to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. Beginning in 2019, new federal laws will be in place to address issues related to impaired driving. In October of last year, the federal government legalized and regulated cannabis for recreational uses. Following the move, the government updated the Criminal Code of Canada to include sections regulating cannabis usage while on road. According to the ICBC website, the new legislation sets a limit for the blood drug concentration level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the principal psychoactive component of cannabis—that an individual can have while driving. It is illegal to drive with more than two nanograms of THC in your system. The new legislation has also given police the authority to use roadside saliva drug testing to assess whether a driver has THC in their system. This roadside check can be followed up by a blood test at the police station to determine the level of THC and the possibility of criminal charges. If suspected of drug-affected driving, the penalty can range from the suspension of your driver’s license and prohibition from driving, to fines, points on your license, and jail time. Penalties will depend on the amount of THC found in the blood and the number of times you've been charged previously, and will be harsher if cannabis is combined with alcohol. The BC government has a zero- tolerance policy for Learner and Novice drivers, meaning drivers with such licenses aren't allowed to drive if they have recently consumed any cannabis. If found guilty of Have an idea for a story? Mi news@theotherpress.ca cannabis-impaired driving, a Learner or Novice driver will be suspended of driving privileges and penalized, depending upon how much THC is in their system. The Government of Canada’s website, in an April 2017 news release on the changes in impaired driving laws, called impaired driving one of the nation’s biggest killers. “Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in More options for better success » New graduation program for BC secondary school students Roshni Riar Staff Writer A s of September 2019, BC secondary tudents nearing graduation will face a new curriculum. The change has been developed by the government of BC to modernize what has previously been taught and emphasized in classrooms. Rob Fleming, Minister of Education, said in a press release that the implemented changes are an effort to give secondary school students the adequate skills and capabilities to help foster success after graduation. “We're pioneering important changes in classrooms today to make sure all students have the opportunity to explore where they want to go in life and build bright futures for themselves,” said Fleming. The December 14 press release states that new course offerings will include digital media, robotics, and environmental science. There is a specific focus on teaching Indigenous histories and points of view, resulting in the development of Grade 12 courses such as Contemporary Indigenous Studies and BC First Peoples. Additionally, 17 different Indigenous languages will be available to learn alongside previously-offered language studies courses such as French and Spanish. On the integration of Indigenous studies into the revamped graduation program, Rob Fleming said, “Education is a key part of reconciliation, and we know that it’s crucial for Indigenous knowledge and history to be embedded in the learning that happens in the classroom [...] We're committed to improving results for Indigenous students and increasing the presence of Indigenous languages, culture, and history throughout all subject matter in BC schools.” A major change that students will face is the discontinuation of course-based provincial exams. Provincial exams will be replaced by three mandatory graduation assessments, with numeracy being tested in Grade 10 and literacy testing in both Grades 10 and 12. The results of these assessments will be weighed and graded ¢ BC government in 2018 ¢ New graduation program for BC secondary school students e¢ New year and new tax rules ..and more! Photo by Billy Bui Canada. The Government has committed to creating new and stronger laws to punish more severely those who drive while under the influence of drugs, including cannabis,” said the news release. Police can now randomly set roadblocks to check drivers for blood THC levels as well as blood alcohol levels. Anybody asked for a breath and/or saliva test has to comply with the procedure or else face the consequences. individually and appear on report cards and transcripts on their own, independent of all other required classes. Students in Grades 10 to 12 will still require 80 credits to graduate. Once the new graduation program and curriculum are in place in September, it will mark the completion of BC’s K-12 educational revamp and redesign. The overhaul of the curriculum began in September 2016 with K-g, continuing with Grade 10 in September 2018. The press release stated that students, parents, teachers, institutions, and shareholders were all consulted in the development of the new programs and the changes implemented. The province aims to constantly improve what is being taught to keep education current, relevant, and valuable to the students who are preparing for either post-secondary education, a working environment, or simply life as an adult. Andrea Sinclair, President of the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, said in the press release, “All parents want their children to graduate from school as educated citizens with the skills needed to take the next steps in their adult life. [...] The new assessments in the graduation program, combined with the revised curriculum, enable all students to achieve their potential for future success.”