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Butland apologizes after conviction surfaces (update)

Update : SooToday has accessed court records of Butland's conviction. Those records show the Ward 1 councillor was convicted of operating a vehicle while "visibly impaired" after pleading guilty to that offence.

Update:

SooToday has accessed court records of Butland's conviction.

Those records show the Ward 1 councillor was convicted of operating a vehicle while "visibly impaired" after pleading guilty to that offence.

Previous reports have said Butland was convicted of being "visually impaired."

A charge of operating while intoxicated was dismissed.

The conviction was registered in Cheboygan District Court April 10.

The offence took place on March 13. 

Butland was fined $1,020 and given four months probation.

Original story:

City councillor and former mayor Steve Butland has been convicted of an impaired driving offence and has subsequently lost his driver’s license.

Butland admitted to the driving conviction in a Sault Star story.

He told SooToday the charge he was convicted of was "visually impaired" driving in relation to an incident that took place in the Indian River, Mich. area.

Although the offence occurred in Michigan last March, his Ontario driver’s license was revoked due to a reciprocal agreement between the state and province.

“Let’s just say I have been reflecting for months and let’s just say it has been a stark reflection,” said Butland to SooToday by phone Friday morning.

It was reported Butland was driving home from Sarnia, Ont. through Michigan when he was pulled over. He said to the Star he was managing back pain with shots of rye.

“My wife said I should have gone into a hotel or motel instead of doing what I did,” he said to SooToday Friday.

Butland, a former Sault MP, said he has learned from his mistake but the damage has been done, “I understand that I will be judged and I have to live with the consequences.”

“People who are quite disappointed in me. I would like to think my reputation until this point and time has been pretty good. I’ve let family down, I’ve let friends down. As a teacher I have taught hundreds and hundreds of students in Sault Ste. Marie and I hope I haven’t disaffected them,” he added.

The revelation comes days after Butland was re-elected as Ward 1 city councillor.

Asked if he thinks public knowledge of the conviction would have affected this week’s election, Butland responded, “We’ll never know and I certainly don’t want to reflect on that.”

Although he is not proud of his actions, Butland said he is relieved to no longer be carrying the secret.

“To the people of Sault Ste. Marie, my sincere apologies and I’m asking for their patience… not sympathy. I don’t deserve their sympathy. I have to work at winning back their trust again and I certainly will work toward that,” he said.

(PHOTO: Ward 1 Councillor Steve Butland's parking spot is pictured at the Civic Centre. Michael Purvis/SooToday)

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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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