Premier Iain Rankin says alcohol played a “big part” of his early-20s lifestyle but he’s moved beyond that.
“I regret that alcohol was a big part of my life in my early 20s and I’ve moved on and lived a more safe lifestyle since in my 30s, about to become a father in November and I’m proud to be the premier of this province,” Rankin said Wednesday, when questioned by reporters about a 2005 impaired-driving charge at the conclusion of an in-person economic growth council news briefing.
“I’ll continue to do what I believe in, with the principles and the lessons I’ve learned with my life,” Rankin said.
The premier opened Monday’s online COVID briefing by saying that he had been convicted of driving while impaired in 2003, fined and given a one-year driving suspension.
He said two years later he was “found innocent” of a second impaired-driving charge.
Confronted directly Wednesday by a reporter who told him court records show that a police officer had testified that Rankin had the smell of alcohol on his breath and that he failed an initial breathalyzer test on the morning of July 25, 2005, after his car rolled into a ditch, the premier refused to say that he had been drinking or was impaired at the time.
“I want to reiterate that I am very, very sorry for my actions as someone who was very young and it’s regrettable that I have to relive that experience right now,” Rankin said. “I thought it was important to tell all Nova Scotians at the same time about a charge that I have on my record. I’ve always been forthcoming about that charge.
“Then in 2005, I had something that was dismissed in court.”
Questioned further and told the breathalyzer test result was only deemed inadmissible because the prosecution could only produce a photocopy of it, Rankin again deflected the direct question about whether he had been drinking.
“I was 22 at that time and I made some bad decisions in my life in my early 20s,” Rankin said. “I am 38 right now and I think that this office needs someone who has integrity and honesty. I’ve done that. I’ve supported MADD since I’ve been in this office, every year, and I’ll continue to work with them. A lot of families have been impacted by drinking and driving in this province and I will do whatever I can do, working with MADD, to ensure that we prevent those types of things from happening in this province.”
A reporter then asked Rankin how being acquitted on appeal on a technicality can be the same as being “found innocent.”
“We have a court of law that determines the outcome in this province,” Rankin said. “I make no excuses for the kind of lifestyle that I lived when I was in my early 20s.
“I laid out the facts on Monday about what has happened in my past. Whenever anyone asks about this, I’ve always said what has happened in my past.
“I’ll continue to do my best going forward and I hope Nova Scotians can see I’m a different person.”
The premier was also asked if he would commit to releasing all disclosures made by caucus members regarding previous convictions and charges, including charges for impaired driving.
“All parties have a process to vet candidates and our party is no different,” Rankin said. “If there are questions about candidates, that is disclosed to the party and they have that choice whether or not to accept the candidate’s disclosure. I was happy that I was accepted, someone that made a mistake a long time ago. The Liberal party accepted me.”
Rankin said he would look at a policy used in Saskatchewan to submit a list of election candidates that had previous criminal convictions.
As a Nova Scotia election call looms, the impaired-driving issue remains prominent.
Barbara Adams, the Progressive Conservative MLA for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage, said in a statement Wednesday that Rankin's apology on Monday left many unanswered questions.
"Rankin stated that he has never hidden this part of his past, but it is clear that he has not been forthcoming with the public," the PC Adams said. "The premier also told Nova Scotians that he was found ‘innocent’ of the second charge, when the truth is that he only avoided jail time due to a technicality and the top DUI lawyer in the province."
Adams and the PCs want Rankin to confirm if he had been drinking prior to the 2005 crash and if he failed the breathalyzer. Adams also wants to know if he had ever driven under the influence aside from any time he was caught, the circumstances of the first arrest and if he had been ordered by a judge to take any treatment.
Adams asks in her statement if Rankin has ever driven under the influence of drugs and what lessons he learned.
NDP Leader Gary Burrill has also said the premier has been less than straightforward.
“It is not forthright of Iain Rankin to say he’s being direct with the people of Nova Scotia when in fact he only spoke to this issue because the media was asking questions,” Burrill said.
A Dalhousie University professor, however, said Rankin’s admission is unlikely to sway the vote.
"Since it happened 20 years ago, I think it’s a different scenario. He’s talking to us about what his life was like as a 19-year-old and what he did then as opposed to what he does now," said Lori Turnbull, director of the school of public administration and an associate professor of political science at Dalhousie.
Any effect on Rankin on the campaign trail “is completely manageable and will not show up in the vote,” she said.
Premier Rankin challenged on statement he was 'found innocent' of 2005 impaired-driving charge | Saltwire - SaltWire Network
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