Jack Anawak pleads guilty to driving with suspended licence
Neighbour saw former politician, 74, driving snowmobile 2 weeks after he was sentenced for impaired driving-related offence
Jack Anawak, a former MP and Iqaluit city councillor, was handed a $2,000 fine Thursday after pleading guilty to driving a snowmobile while his licence was suspended. (File photo)
Longtime Nunavut politician Jack Anawak has been ordered to pay a $2,000 fine after pleading guilty to driving with a suspended licence.
“You did breach the conditional sentence order,” Justice Susan Charlesworth told Anawak, who appeared in court in Iqaluit Thursday morning by video conference.
“Things may go differently the next time.”
Anawak — a former member of Parliament and Iqaluit city councillor — was handed a six-month conditional sentence and 10-year driving ban in January after pleading guilty to operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.
The sentence stemmed from his involvement in a crash the evening of Nov. 4, 2023, the same week he was sworn in as an Iqaluit city councillor.
Anawak admitted to drinking wine that night, court heard earlier this year.
Two weeks after being sentenced for that, on Feb. 15 this year, Anawak drove a snowmobile with a child passenger seated on board, Crown prosecutor Chris McCarthy said in court Thursday. While driving, Anawak was recognized by one of his neighbours who was aware of his sentence conditions and called police.
McCarthy said the Crown was seeking a $2,000 fine for the violation. Additionally, he suggested Anawak’s three-month house arrest order be extended to six months, which would be served within the original conditional sentence.
Craig Rogers, Anawak’s lawyer, agreed with the Crown. He said Anawak, 74, is on a “retirement” income and should be able to pay the fine.
“I take full responsibility,” Anawak said.
In handing down her sentence, Charlesworth noted how soon after his sentencing that the breach occurred and that there was a child passenger on the snowmobile. She emphasized there was no allegation of alcohol consumption in relation to the breach.
“I hope you do well for you in the future,” Charlesworth said, handing down the fine and extended sentence.
Got ”ratted out ” by the neighborhood watch.
Good 👍
This guy is doing everything but setting an example. Rules for thee…….but not for ME !!!!1
“Anawak — a former member of Parliament and Iqaluit city councillor”
This isn’t a great summary of Anawak’s career.
Former MP, sure. But was he even sworn in as city councillor?
And omitting his stint as Interim Commissioner is a problem. Arguably, this is the most significant part of his CV (draw your own conclusions as to the quality of his work… did the GN hit the ground running?).
He also had stint as GN minister and aspiring first Nunavut premier, and later there was the whole “Arctic Ambassador” phase.
Regardless of his name and various roles in Nunavut, this was nothing short of a slap on the wrist and should be an embarrassment to the Judge and the crown.
Setting poor examples all around
Funny in a way. My comment a few weeks ago was how long will it be before he is caught/charged again for driving. That comment was not posted.