It cannot be said frequently or loudly enough that we have a drunk driving problem in Saskatchewan.
Nothing is more emblematic of that fact than last week’s conviction of Don McMorris, the former minister responsible for SGI. The irony, that the very guy in the province whose job it was to take drinking and driving seriously was arrested and charged on August 5 for not taking drinking and driving seriously is indicative of an attitude problem that, according to at least one poll is shared by far too many Saskatchewan residents.
In court September 7, we all found out how serious McMorris’s offence was. Two people reported the minister’s government vehicle weaving on Hwy 1 near White City at approximately 11:30 a.m.
He also almost rear-ended another vehicle at a Tim Hortons drive-thru.
It is now no wonder why he was driving so poorly. The Court heard McMorris gave two breath samples with readings of .20 and .21 blood-alcohol content (BAC), two-and-half times the legal limit.
More to the point, research indicates the effects of a .20 BAC may include: Feeling dazed, confused or otherwise disoriented. Needing help to stand or walk [much less drive]. Not feeling the pain of injury. Potential nausea and vomiting. Impaired gag reflex creating a choking risk if vomiting does occur. Blackouts.
McMorris’s explanation was that he had been drinking the night before and felt like he was okay to drive when he woke up in the morning. Poor judgment at best.
There are plenty of conclusions one might draw from that version of events concerning the former minister’s lifestyle and tolerance to alcohol.
The judge even expressed concern about how much alcohol McMorris must have consumed the night before to produce such high readings the following morning.
Alternative explanations, such as perhaps he is not being perfectly truthful, also have implications about the man personally, but he appears to be taking corrective action.
He has resigned from cabinet, apologized (seemingly fully and sincerely) and is receiving counseling. One reporter who covered his court appearance commented he looked thinner and healthier.
After his court appearance, he briefly addressed reporters.
“I’m extremely embarrassed and ashamed of my actions on that day,” he said. “There are no excuses.”
Some, the leader of the Opposition, for example, would like to see him also resign as MLA for Indian Head-Milestone saying he has breached the Code of Conduct for sitting MLAs.
We rehash all of this here because McMorris is merely a high-profile example of something that continues to happen all too frequently in Saskatchewan. As stated above he is emblematic of a serious problem.
Saskatchewan continues to lead all the provinces in drunk driving deaths and injuries. And not by a little bit. People die on Saskatchewan roads at more than double the national average. We have a third again as many alcohol-related fatalities than the next worst province, PEI.
High profile cases such as McMorris don’t seem to help, at least not enough. Tougher laws, which came into effect in 2014, do not seem to help, at least not enough. Significant jail time in drunk driving causing death cases, such as the 10 years Catherine McKay got in
July for killing a Saskatoon family of four, do not seem to help, at least not enough. Endless awareness campaigns by governments and community organizations do not seem to help, at least not enough. Editorials such as this, do not seem to help, at least not enough.
What is it going to take, Saskatchewan?
It seems every single person in the province is going to have to shoulder some of the responsibility for making it socially unacceptable to get behind the wheel after drinking.
It is difficult, yes, to tell someone not to drive, or to take away a friend’s or family member’s car keys, or to report them if they refuse to listen to reason, but what choice have we got. It is time to stop the carnage.
