Former PQ leader Andr Boisclair pleads guilty to impaired driving

Former Parti Qubcois leader Andr Boisclairwill pay a $2,000 fine and won't be allowed to drive a vehicle for one year, after pleading guilty on Thursday to a charge ofimpaired driving.

Boisclairwas arrested just after midnight onNov. 9, 2017, after he crashed his car into a lampposton St-Joseph Street, in Quebec City's Saint-Rochneighbourhood.

Boisclairalso pleaded guilty to refusing totake abreathalyzer test after his arrest.

• Former PQ leader Andr Boisclair arrested in Quebec City after midnight car crash

The 51-year-old gave a brief statement as he left the courtroom.

"Today, I take responsibility for my actions," he said.

"I am above all relieved...that no one else is having to facing any consequences for the mistake I made."

Absolutedischarge

Boisclairreceived an absolute discharge for obstruction of justice, whichthe Crown had filed after his arrest.

Quebec City police said at the time that Boisclair had intimidatedthe officers who made the arrest, threateningto file a complaint tothe police ethics board.

The Crown prosecutor, Jean-Philippe Robitaille, said Boisclair did not benefit from preferential treatment. He said citizens who don't have criminal records oftenreceive an absolute discharge.

"These words were probablyuttered while under the influence and did not carry any consequences," Robitaille said.

The prosecutor did caution against using theexpression "lack ofjudgment."

Several of Boisclair'sformer colleagues at the National Assembly had used the expression when news of his arrest broke last fall. Others saidit could happen to anyone.

Robitaille said it's important that impaired driving be seen as an act of negligence, because of the dangerous implications it carries.

Ex-PQ leader's background

Boisclairwas first elected to the National Assembly in 1989 in Montreal's Gouin riding,becoming the youngest MNAin history.

He served as a cabinet minister under Quebec premiersLucien Bouchard andBernard Landry. He was leader of the PQ from 2005 to 2007.

Boisclairis nowthe president and director-general of the Institut de dveloppement urbain du Qubec.