During the Legislative Assembly on Friday, March 11, an inquiry was put forward to conduct a full review of the $806,000 price tag of the public inquiry of former Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh assembly member, Steve Norn.
The cost of a little over $800,000 was accumulated through various items such as legal fees, and is in relation to both NornSA国际影视传媒檚 violation of Covid-19 isolation rules and issues in public legitimacy about his actions.
RELATED REPORTING: Northwest Territories MLA Steve Norn ejected from Legislative Assembly in unanimous vote
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a couple of things that I believe we need to do as an assembly, through the speaker and the board of management,SA国际影视传媒� said Rylund Johnson, MLA for Yellowknife North, SA国际影视传媒淔irstly, cap legal costs, the vast majority of this is legal fees.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淪econdly, I think that some sort of alternative measures, or diversion, or dispute resolution mechanism needs to be made available so there can be a bit of an SA国际影视传媒榦ff rampSA国际影视传媒� during this process,SA国际影视传媒� he continued.
Johnson also felt conversations needed to occur in other jurisdictions to regarding the Integrity CommissionersSA国际影视传媒� role moving forward.
The Department of Finance, which is responsible for the vast majority of funding and spending operations, is not responsible for the spending of the Legislative Assembly.
According to Frederick Blake Jr., Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the full review will take place within the next six months.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Board of Management has instructed the office of the clerk to undertake review of the policies within the next six months and provide recommendation to the board for consideration,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e are doing a full review of lessons learned from this and will bring those recommendations forward.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚n an instance like this, it is very difficult to put a cap on legal fees,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 supposed to be a fair process. Like say; SA国际影视传媒榠t shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 go over $100,000SA国际影视传媒�, itSA国际影视传媒檚 very unfair for any members in this chamber to defend themselves, it depends on circumstance.SA国际影视传媒�
Kevin OSA国际影视传媒橰eily, member for Frame Lake, also added his comments into the mix, stating that SA国际影视传媒渃onsensus government workedSA国际影视传媒� when regarding changes that were made to the Code of Conduct, the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, among other items during former assemblySA国际影视传媒檚.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was painful, but it worked,SA国际影视传媒� said OSA国际影视传媒橰eilly. SA国际影视传媒淚t did cost some money but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the price of democracy in some ways.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 agree with a lot of what my colleague said in terms of trying to learn some lessons from what happened,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 difficult to cap legal costs, particularly around a public inquiry.SA国际影视传媒�
As well, Frieda Martselos, MLA for Thebacha, also stated the costliness of the public inquiry but also thought that SA国际影视传媒渢here was no other way.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 think it was done in a very fair manor and I think the decision made was the correct one,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e lucky we stuck to $806,000.SA国际影视传媒�
RELATED REPORTING: Former Northwest Territories MLA Steve Norn fined nearly $1,400 for violating Public Health Act in 2021
On top of the review into the public inquiry, other fiance related issues, (particularly those facing Norn), include his recent fine of nearly $1,400 for violating his Covid-19 isolation period. Norn has until February, 2023, to pay.
