UPDATE: Northern chief found guilty in impaired driving related charge

Napoleon Mercredi won’t be driving anywhere in the near future.

The Fond Du Lac Chief has had his license suspended for a full year.

He was charged with one count of impaired driving and a second count of refusing a breath sample.

Mercredi was in court in Regina Wednesday morning, where the impaired driving count was stayed.

He was found guilty of refusing the breath sample.

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Along with a one year driving probation he has been fined $1,250 dollars and a $188 surcharge.

“That is in the law and that’s what I pleaded to, so to me, dropping the impaired driving charges and then paying the fine, I don’t have a problem with that,” Mercredi said.

“It’s over. I made a mistake and I told my band members that I made a mistake six months ago.”

The First Nation Executive Act puts a zero alcohol tolerance for Fond du Lac elected members.

Mercredi said the charges don’t fall under an indictable offence under his election act, which means he is not worried about losing his political position.

Mercredi has not stepped down from his position of chief which echoes the actions of BC Premier Gordon Campbell in 2003. Campbell also held his position in government after facing impaired driving charges.

sfroese@rawlco.com