The provincial government is encouraging all drivers to get snow tires this season but has stopped short of making them mandatory.

Although Emergency Management Minister Ross Landry says it could be the first step towards legislation, today the government was focusing on making winter driving safer without legislation.  

“We’re here today to talk very much about that, to make the public aware,” he says. “I think it’s always better if you’re starting to move in a certain direction is to drop a seed and to say ‘winter tires make sense’, whether or not it should be a law, let’s see.”

Landry says the information he’s gotten out of Quebec in regards to the reduction of accidents and injuries provides a case for the legislation.

Quebec has had mandatory winter tires since 2008.

Landry made the announcement along with Transportation Minister Maurice Smith and the RCMP.

The province is promoting safe winter driving tips such as having an emergency kit, getting a winter tune-up and slowing down on the road when passing emergency vehicles and snow plows.