PC leader urges a public and transparent selection process for referendum commissioner

A P.E.I man convicted of operating a motor vehicle while disqualified for the ninth time was sentenced on Wednesday to jail and banned from driving for four years.

Preston James Blaisdell, 34, also got some advice from Supreme Court Chief Justice Tracey Clements, who said that she hopes the “cycle of criminal offences and imprisonment” does not continue to be the cycle that defines him or his life. She also told Blaisdell that she hopes he makes better choices in the future.

Clements accepted a joint sentencing recommendation from the Crown attorney and Blaisdell’s lawyer for an eight-month jail sentence.

With 150 days credit for time already served in custody since his March 12 arrest (at a rate of 1.5 days for each day in custody), Blaisdell has three months left to serve on that sentence in addition to any other sentence.

Blaisdell pleaded not guilty to the charge on May 8 in provincial court, and elected to have the matter heard in supreme court.

On Monday, which was supposed to be the start of his trial, Blaisdell changed his plea to guilty.

According to the agreed facts read in court, on March 12, an RCMP officer familiar with Blaisdell’s driving history recognized his 2001 GMC Jimmy driving on the Trans-Canada Highway in Stratford.

The vehicle was pulled over on a nearby side street. As the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed it was rocking, and saw Blaisdell trying to switch seats with his common-law spouse from the driver’s seat to the passenger’s seat.

After hearing the facts, Clements adjourned the matter to consider the joint sentence recommendation.

On Wednesday, Clements noted that even though Blaisdell pleaded guilty, he did so at a late stage in the proceedings given it was supposed to be the start of the trial. As well, the judge said the number of prior related convictions was an aggravating factor, including the fact that Blaisdell was arrested for driving while disqualified 12 days prior to the March 12 incident.

For that Feb. 28 incident, Blaisdell was sentenced on June 20 to nine months jail for driving while disqualified and possession of a stolen licence plate and banned from driving for three years. He was given five months credit for time already served in custody.

Court heard that Blaisdell has a criminal record for other offences, but with respect to driving while disqualified, he was previously convicted in 2004, 2014, three times in 2015, twice in 2016 and then in June of this year.

In addition to the driving ban, Blaisdell was required to pay a $200 victim surcharge.

Opposition Leader James Aylward is urging MLAs on the Legislative Management Committee to adopt a more public and transparent selection process for the province’s referendum commissioner.

Aylward made his comments in advance of an upcoming meeting of the committee.

“The referendum commissioner has an important role to play in the upcoming referendum so it’s important that we select the best person possible to do that job,’’ said Aylward.

“That’s why I’m renewing my Aylward call for a more publicly transparent process to select the referendum commissioner.’’

Aylward is calling for the position to be publicly advertised as other independent officers of the Legislative Assembly such as the auditor general, the information and privacy commissioner and the CEO of Elections P.E.I.

Aylward is also asking for any committee meetings dealing with the selection of the referendum commissioner to be open to the public.

Legislative Management Committee meetings are typically held in camera behind closed doors. Aylward noted that the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy, which is the federal counterpart of P.E.I.’s Legislative Management Committee, has held all of its meetings open to the public and webcasted since last June.

Additionally, several provinces, such as Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia, hold similar committee meetings publicly and broadcast the proceedings.

“Lack of public confidence in the process was a major issue during the debate over the referendum bill this spring,’’ he said.

“I’m not sure hand-picking someone behind closed doors to be the referendum commissioner will strengthen that public confidence so I’m hopeful that the rest of the committee will support my request.’’