No timeline for new cellphone rules in Alberta

A cellphone ban for Alberta drivers is on the agenda for the Tory government, but Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette can't say what the new rules might look like or when they will be introduced.

"I want to cover all of the different aspects of distracted driving," Ouellette told reporters Tuesday. "And I can't say exactly when that will be."

The idea of a provincewide ban was floated in May after Strathcona County became the first municipality in Alberta to bring in regulations to outlaw the use of hand-held cellphones while driving. That bylaw came into effect in September.

"I have to be able to make sure that I bring something forward that's going to work, that's going to be effective, going to be enforceable," Ouellette said.

The transportation minister said he is considering the options, including whether new legislation is even needed.

"I've also got my officials looking into, [are] there ways to do some of this stuff, to make our roads safer even through regulation, that I don't have to get it all through the House, that we can do some of this stuff right away.

"Distracted driving has become pretty high on all transportation ministers' agendas right across the country."

Newfoundland and Labrador banned the use of hand-held cellphones in 2003, while Quebec and Nova Scotia both brought in legislation earlier this year. 

Ontario's new rules came into effect this week, and British Columbia is looking at legislation that would come into effect Jan. 1.