This week on Driving Law, Kyla Lee and Paul Doroshenko examine two significant legal developments affecting Canadian drivers: the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in the Pat King Freedom Convoy case and British Columbia’s overhaul of the graduated licensing program.
The episode begins with a discussion of the Court of Appeal’s decision to substitute a conviction for one of Pat King’s acquittals arising from the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa. Kyla and Paul explain why the court concluded that intentionally blocking highways to pressure government action can amount to criminal intimidation, even where the underlying protest is protected by the Charter. They also discuss what the ruling means for future demonstrations that disrupt public roadways.
They then turn to the biggest changes to BC’s graduated licensing program in more than two decades. Beginning October 19, 2026, most novice drivers with clean records will no longer need to pass a second road test. Instead, ICBC will review their driving history before issuing a restricted Class 5 licence. Kyla and Paul explain who qualifies, how the new driving record assessment works, and why tickets for excessive speeding or using an electronic device could delay a driver’s progression to a full licence.
Finally, the Ridiculous Driver of the Week takes them to the East Kootenays, where police allege an Alberta driver was travelling 230 km/h in an 80 km/h zone before officers later located the vehicle at a campground. The discussion explores the significant penalties that followed and why speeds like this raise serious public safety concerns.
