After resigning from cabinet and the Saskatchewan Party caucus following his DUI charge, Indian Head-Milestone MLA Don McMorris is once again a member of caucus.
Premier Brad Wall announced Monday that McMorris wrote a letter asking to rejoin caucus, and he was voted back in on Monday.
READ MORE: Former deputy premier Don McMorris charged with impaired driving
McMorris resigned from cabinet after being charged with impaired driving last August. He was pulled over on Highway 1 near White City on Aug. 6, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.
At the time, McMorris was the deputy premier and minister responsible for both SGI and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.
McMorris said that he asked to return to caucus because he can do more as a government MLA than he can as an independent. One of his main goals is to combat impaired driving, using things he’s learned since his charge and conviction.
“If you ever wanted to blue sky it and say lets eliminate drinking and driving from the province you could do it,” McMorris said.
“You could put an interlock in every vehicle so everyone was tested before they drove. Now people aren’t ready for that in the province, I get push back when I mention it.”
McMorris added that new technology is being developed, such as a device that can measure blood-alcohol levels by finger print.
“Technology is so, so important, because what it is is proactive instead of reactive, and what we have for the most part is a system that’s reactive,” McMorris said.
McMorris was not allowed to drive for four months following his charge, but is allowed to drive again because there is an interlock device in his vehicle.
READ MORE: Former Sask. deputy premier Don McMorris pleads guilty to drunk driving
“The counsellor that he was speaking to pointed out that sometimes it’s better to get people back involved in their workplace as soon as possible where there is support, rather than to have them separated,” Premier Brad Wall said.
“My conversations with Don have been about how he wants to further this issue, to be a champion for this issue.”
McMorris has sat as a independent MLA since his resignation.
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