A North Vancouver MLA admits she is facing drunk-driving charges after being stopped at a roadblock early Tuesday.
North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite was driving home from a night of Olympic events – including visits to the Northern Pavillion and Sochi House – when she was stopped at about 1 a.m. by North Vancouver RCMP.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Liberal backbencher and mother of three, apologized for her actions.
“Last night … I was stopped at a roadcheck by RCMP in North Vancouver and am now facing impaired driving charges,” she said.
“My actions were inexcusable. Drinking and driving is dangerous and completely unacceptable; I know that and make no excuses for what I did,” she said.
“I apologize to my family, my friends, my colleagues, and especially my constituents who put their faith in me. I failed to meet the standards I set for myself as a mother and as a public official.”
A government official with the B.C. Liberal caucus said Thornthwaite’s blood alcohol level was 0.11 per cent. The legal limit is 0.08 per cent.
She has not been officially charged, but said in her statement that she accepts full responsibility for her actions and will “co-operate fully with Crown counsel.”
“I know what I did was wrong and I will take full responsibility for my actions,” she said. “I intend to work hard to regain the trust of my constituents in light of this serious mistake and I want to apologize to everyone for my actions.”
New Democrat house leader MLA Mike Farnworth was hesitant on commenting, but said:
“Clearly drinking and driving is completely unacceptable and I think it’s appropriate that she takes responsibility for her actions,” Farnworth said.
“What needs to happen at this point, is the police investigation needs to play out.”
Bob Rorison of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’ Vancouver chapter said he hopes Thornthwaite will continue to be accountable for the incident.
“Let’s just hope she’s going to be open and transparent about the situation and not hide behind any sort of special privilege because of her position,” Rorison said. “Let’s hope she’ll deal with this as someone in the public eye should.”
Thornthwaite was elected MLA in the 2009 general provincial election. She is a member of the Select Standing Committees on Children and Youth, Education and Finance and Government Services and the former chair of the North Vancouver School Board.
She is expected to appear in Court in April to face charges.
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