Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon says recent criticisms directed at him regarding money owing on a mortgage debt with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation are unfair and donSA国际影视传媒檛 capture the full context of the situation.
Edjericon was sworn in as MLA on Feb. 21 following a byelection to fill Steve NornSA国际影视传媒檚 seat. The new MLA almost immediately faced criticism in the media relating to $113,000 outstanding on his housing corporation mortgage.
But in a March 17 news release shared with News/North, Edjericon said the amount owed stems from a personal mortgage on a home in Dettah that he shared with his late ex-wife.
She passed away in September 2019 and since that time, as her executor, he said he has been attempting to resolve the debt with the housing corporation, as per her wishes.
SA国际影视传媒淚 felt it was important to clarify the facts so as not to mislead the public or my constituents, but also to put an end to misinformation and political weaponization,SA国际影视传媒� Edjericon stated.
He said before running in the byelection, he attempted to reach Eleanor Young, president of the NWT Housing Corporation, by email on Dec. 2 and Dec. 8.
SA国际影视传媒淚 basically wanted to let (Young) know that we have a debt and ISA国际影视传媒檓 here to honour my ex-wifeSA国际影视传媒檚 wish to pay it off,SA国际影视传媒� Edjericon said, adding itSA国际影视传媒檚 important in Indigenous culture not to leave debts behind after passing away.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 exactly what I wanted to do was pay that off and so that the issue is resolved and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 it.SA国际影视传媒�
He added that he also tried to meet Young in person at the housing corporationSA国际影视传媒檚 head office in Yellowknife on Dec 7, however she was unavailable that day.
SA国际影视传媒淎s of todaySA国际影视传媒檚 date (March 17), I have received no written response from Ms. Eleanor Young, president NWT Housing Corporation, nor anyone representing the housing corporation in order to resolve this issue,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Edjericon said that he has been disappointed with the reaction he has received, especially as he has been stressed in his personal life with the passing of father last year, as well. He is working on settling that estate too, he said.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 funny that this whole thing came out a day after I was sworn in, but to research that information, somebody would have had to have been tipped off and I find it kind of malicious,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not really happy with that as a way, probably, to try to discredit me.SA国际影视传媒�
Edjericon said he has hired a lawyer to help resolve the issue with the housing corporation.
He also appealed to David Jones, ethics commissioner of the NWT, to review the amount owed immediately after being elected.
SA国际影视传媒淢r. Jones said this matter is being resolved between two parties and is not an issue for the ethics commissioner,SA国际影视传媒� Edjericon stated.
SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 Landing Chief Gerry Cheezie told News North recently that he was displeased with how Edjericon was represented in the media.
Of greater concern in the NWT is the long list of residents overall who owe the housing corporation money, not only for rent or public housing but with home-ownership programs.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was kind of upset when I saw the CBC news article focusing on Richard Edjericon and Rocky Simpson because if you were to research and publish the names of all the people that owe the NWT Housing Corporation money, youSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at hundreds of people,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓very community in every region of the NWT have people who owe the housing corporation money.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒 left a message with Northwest Territories Housing Corporation on March 17 but there was no immediate response.
