'No excuse or rationale': Don McMorris pleads guilty to drunk driving

Former Saskatchewan deputy premier Don McMorris has pleaded guilty to drinking and driving in a Regina court.

He was driving from Fort Qu’Appelle around 11.30 a.m. on Aug. 5 when he was videoed by the RCMP weaving from the centre line to the other side of the rumble strips.

When pulled over he admitted to drinking the day before. He failed a breathalyzer test with a reading of 0.210 mg – the legal limit is 0.08 mg.

McMorris had spent the previous day with an old friend “golfing, watching the game and drinking into the early morning hours.”

In court, McMorris read a statement from his phone saying there was “no rationale or excuse that his life’s work was to prevent this.”

He added he’s lucky no one was hurt physically but acknowledged the hurt he caused his family.

In court, Judge B.J Tomkins was troubled by the amount of alcohol that was in McMorris’s system that time in the morning but gave him favour because he had lost so much already, particularly his credibility.

Tomkins added she was pleased he admitted to being ashamed, “a term I hear so rarely now.”

McMorris was sentenced to a one-year driving ban and a fine of $1820.

980 CJME Reporter Sarah Mills was in Regina Provincial Court.

Outside court, McMorris would not answer questions, but did read from a prepared statement.

“Today I pleaded guilty to impaired driving charges.

I just want to say I am extremely embarrassed and ashamed of my actions that day. There are no excuses, there is no rationale whatsoever for what I have done that day. I know better, I know so much better.

As I had said in the courtroom it’s been, you know, work that I’ve worked on for a long, long time, so there are no excuses.

I’ve been very lucky that there was no one was hurt or injured because that definitely could have happened.

But that doesn’t mean I haven’t hurt a lot of people including my family, many of the people that have supported me over the years I’ve have had an effect on them.

I would do anything if I could change that day but I can’t. I can’t live in the past, I’ve beat myself up for the last month over my actions and I can’t change them so all I can do is move forward.

I have accessed the help of counselling already and will continue to do that into the future. I need to make some changes in my life and am committed to that so that this never, ever happens again.

Thank you very much.”

McMorris, who was also the minister responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and Saskatchewan Government Insurance, resigned from cabinet after being charged.

Video shows car going from centre to the other side of the rumble strips. Nearly rear-ended car by the Tim Horton’s in Emerald Park.

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016

Officer smelled alcohol, face & eyes puffy, admitted consumed alcohol the previous night. He failed a breathalyzer. 210 and 200 mg readings

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016

Crown says McMorris has been publicly shamed in the media as a result of his actions. He is pleading guilty at his first opportunity.

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016

Fox says McMorris spent the day before with old friend, golfing, watching the game, drinking into early hours. He should not have driven.

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016

Fox says he has been attending family counselling, three sessions, admits alcohol was a problem. Wants to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016

McMorris “regrets his decision, embarrassed and is completely sorry”.

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016

Judge says McMorris has lost a great deal already, credibility, and she praises him for saying he is “ashamed” she hears that too rarely.

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016

Police have had McMorris’s driving licence already, $1820 fine and one year driving ban. That is the end of the matter.

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) September 7, 2016