Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon is facing a recommended fine of $2,500 and a reprimand after the NWT integrity commissioner found he violated the MLA code of conduct by "harassing" nursing staff.
Integrity commissioner David Phillip Jones investigated a written complaint that Edjericon "orchestrated a continuous campaign of harassing the nursing staff at the health centre in Fort Resolution, and in particular had mounted a campaign based on innuendo, hearsay and rumours" to have the nurse in charge terminated from her position and removed from the community.
Edjericon said he had heard from his constituents that the nurse in charge was dismissive of their medical complaints and exhibited disregard of the culture and sacred traditions of the residents of the constituency.
She was investigated externally but "none of the allegations... were substantiated."
The MLA denied that he was targeting the nurse in charge personally. Instead, he argued that "he made the complaint to change the operations of the health centre."
The external investigators who looked into the nurse in charge were critical of how Edjericon conducted himself.
"It is clear Mr. Edjericon did not understand the operations of the health centre. He had never visited it. He never met with [the nurse in charge] (who had never been previously complained about during her four years at Fort Resolution)," Jones' report reads. "He had never contacted senior management about health care services in the community. His letter did not ask for an investigation into the health centreSA国际影视传媒檚 operations, but explicitly demanded [the nurse in charge] be transferred out and explicitly named the person he wanted to replace her. It was apparent that Mr. Edjericon did not understand the importance of fully understanding a situation and limiting his comments to actual fact before purporting to speak on behalf of (some of ) his constituents."
The subsequent complaint against Edjericon, filed by the nurse in charge, was dated July 26, 2023.
Jones found the MLA's approach to be lacking.
"Objectively, one must conclude that Mr. Edjericon had an agenda to remove [the nurse in charge] ... In my view, Mr. EdjericonSA国际影视传媒檚 actions and conduct to have [the nurse in charge] removed ... were inappropriate and constituted harassment,' Jones wrote. "Secondly, Mr. EdjericonSA国际影视传媒檚 failure to take steps to verify the accuracy of the concerns he had heard about lacks integrity.
"The lesson to be taken from this unfortunate situation is that there are limits on what a Member may do, and how they may go about what they do," Jones stated. "Being a member is not carte blanche to make or repeat unverified and unfounded allegations. Members have an obligation to inform themselves about the facts. It is inappropriate for a Member to orchestrate a campaign for an employee of a public body to be transferred, suspended or terminated."
The integrity commissioner made his recommendation public on Thursday, Oct. 10. His report will be tabled during the next sitting of the NWT legislative assembly, which begins with a meeting of committees and caucus on Oct. 16 followed by regular sessions the next day. The assembly has 15 sitting days to consider the report and act on the recommendation. MLAs may accept or reject the integrity commissioner's recommendation, however, they are not able to increase the recommended penalties.
According to legislation, a fine recommended by the integrity commissioner cannot exceed $25,000. The reprimand could include a suspension of up to 30 days or forcing Edjericon to vacate his seat as MLA.
