Summary
Horizontal Evaluation of the Initiative to Address Drug-Impaired Driving

About the program

In 2017, prior to the legalization of cannabis, the federal government announced the Horizontal Initiative to Address Drug-Impaired Driving (the Initiative). The Initiative allocated $111M between fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2021-2022 to three partner organizations: Public Safety Canada (PS), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). In October 2022, the timeframe of the Initiative was extended, with a new end date of March 31, 2025.

What we examined

The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the Initiative. It covered the period from fiscal year 2017-2018 to 2024-2025 and included the three partner organizations.

Evaluation findings

• The Initiative was able to provide drug screening devices to law enforcement, however uptake has been limited
• Drug-impaired driving (DID) training courses and materials were developed and delivered to Canadian law enforcement and border services officers
• The implementation of PS' public awareness campaign was successful in increasing public awareness of the risks associated with DID
• DID awareness products that were developed and disseminated by the RCMP's Centre for Youth Crime Prevention were considered informative and helpful
• National standardized indicators for DID have been developed, however ongoing challenges have hindered the development of a comprehensive picture of the scope and impact of DID in Canada
• Issues with funding eligibility were not considered during the Initiative's design which delayed the timely implementation of some contribution agreements
• Mechanisms were in place to support governance and oversight for the Initiative at both Senior Management and working levels
• The Initiative faced obstacles utilizing its allocated resources

Recommendations

1. Continue to support the provision of Standard Field Sobriety Testing and Drug Recognition Expert training to law enforcement officers across Canada. (PS, CBSA, RCMP)
2. Engage with Statistics Canada to leverage their expertise in addressing the recommendations of the Federal Provincial and Territorial Working Group in relation to work with coroners and medical examiners to improve data collection and reporting on fatal collisions involving DID. (PS)
3. Explore opportunities for ongoing DID public awareness campaigns to maintain the positive attitudinal shifts. (PS)

Date modified:

2025-08-29