Former Sask. deputy premier apologizes for drunk driving

Former Saskatchewan deputy premier Don McMorris says it is a different experience being back in the legislature after pleading guilty to drunk driving.

For starters, McMorris is no longer Premier Brad Wall’s right-hand man, with a front-row seat in the assembly.

McMorris resigned from cabinet and left the Saskatchewan Party’s caucus after he was charged with drunk driving in August. He now sits as an Independent.

McMorris was driving a government car when he was pulled over by police the morning of Aug. 5 on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Regina.

Court heard he had nearly 21/2 times the legal amount of alcohol in his system. He pleaded guilty to having a blood-alcohol level over .08, was fined $1,820 and lost his licence for a year.

Wednesday was the first day of the fall sitting. McMorris was the first member to speak.

“My actions, there is no rationale and no excuses, absolutely none for it, so with that I apologize to the members of this House,” he said in a brief statement.

McMorris was a key member of Wall’s government. In addition to being deputy premier, he oversaw the province’s liquor and gaming authority, was the minister of Crown investments and was responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance, the government’s publicly owned automobile insurer.

He is also a former health minister and highways minister.