Steve Norn was fined nearly $1,400 for violating his Covid-19 isolation period in April, March 2.

The former MLA for Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh was charged with two counts of failing to isolate from other persons in contradiction of the Public Health Act after returning from a trip to Alberta in the spring. He changed his initial plea of not guilty to guilty in Yellowknife court Wednesday morning.

Judge Lloyd Strang considered several mitigating factors, including both NornSA国际影视传媒檚 role and influence as an elected official and the fallout from the ensuing scandal that affected both Norn and his family.

NornSA国际影视传媒檚 violation of the Public Health Act was not in contention: He had previously admitted to the CBC that he had entered the Legislative Assembly on April 17 of last year after returning from a trip to Grande Prairie, before his mandatory 14-day Covid isolation period had ended. Norn later tested positive for Covid-19, and a guard at the Assembly had to self-isolate after coming into contact with him.

The revelation of NornSA国际影视传媒檚 violation of a public health order and ensuing enquiry eventually led to Norn being removed from his seat as the MLA for Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh in November.

Given his role as an MLA, Strang argued Norn SA国际影视传媒渙ught to have known the importance of complyingSA国际影视传媒� with public health orders. He also recognized that SA国际影视传媒渢he public can be influenced by the words and actions of its leaders.SA国际影视传媒�

However, he acknowledged that NornSA国际影视传媒檚 role as an elected official led to a level of public scrutiny and harassment that SA国际影视传媒渨ouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have been felt by other individuals.SA国际影视传媒�

The charge could have carried a fine of up to $10,000 or six months in jail; Crown prosecutor John Cliffe argued for a fine of $1,500, plus a $250 victim surcharge, saying the prosecution was SA国际影视传媒渘ot asking for the maximum penaltySA国际影视传媒� but was instead only interested in SA国际影视传媒済eneral deterrance.SA国际影视传媒�

He said NornSA国际影视传媒檚 self-isolation plan, which had been approved by health authorities prior to his trip, was SA国际影视传媒渦nambiguous,SA国际影视传媒� and that Norn must have known he was violating his isolation. SA国际影视传媒淭his was not a slip of oneSA国际影视传媒檚 mind, or forgetting, or anything like that,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He said there were not many other cases to look to for appropriate fines, since most accused pay the fine without going to trial.

NornSA国际影视传媒檚 counsel, Jay Bran, argued the fine should be reduced to $100 and the victim surcharge waived due both to NornSA国际影视传媒檚 unemployment and the fallout of the scandal.

SA国际影视传媒淗e has already suffered immensely,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

However, Strang said a $100 fine was SA国际影视传媒渟imply not sufficientSA国际影视传媒� to deter other members of the public from violating health orders in the future.

Speaking on his own behalf, Norn said he had been unable to find work since being removed as an MLA. He said both he and his children had been the subjects of harassment and name-calling since the scandal broke out.

In particular, he said the team responsible for ensuring compliance with Covid rules were SA国际影视传媒渧ery, very vicious towards and me and family.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 just want to move on, cauterize this, and accept whatever judgement you hand out,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Norn will have until February 2023 to pay the fine.