The question as to how the affidavit filed by Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson regarding the validity of the public inquiry into the behaviour of then Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh MLA Steve Norn was shared with the clerksSA国际影视传媒� office, and the Board of Management, is now known.
A Sept. 23 letter from Speaker Frederick Blake Jr. to Integrity Commissioner David Jones obtained by SA国际影视传媒 show that four affidavits - one from Jacobson who stated the inquiry was SA国际影视传媒渁 tool is the ClerkSA国际影视传媒檚 arsenal to silence what he perceives as dissent in SA国际影视传媒榟isSA国际影视传媒� government - were sent by inquiry lawyer Maurice Laprairie to assembly law clerk Sheila MacPherson on Aug. 24.
SA国际影视传媒淪hortly after the in-camera meeting on Aug. 24, Ms. MacPherson received an email from counsel for the sole adjudicator (Laprairie) with respect to Mr. NornSA国际影视传媒檚 application,SA国际影视传媒� Blake wrote, noting that Norn had attempted to halt the inquiry due to what he called SA国际影视传媒淪A国际影视传媒檆onflict and institutional bias.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭he email contained four affidavits in support of the application, including an unsworn affidavit by Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Jacobson subsequently swore his affidavit the next day.SA国际影视传媒�
On Nov. 18, SA国际影视传媒 asked Laprairie by email if his office shared JacobsonSA国际影视传媒檚 affidavit with the ClerkSA国际影视传媒檚 Office. SA国际影视传媒淚 will not be responding further,SA国际影视传媒� was LaprairieSA国际影视传媒檚 only reply.
Likewise, the Office of the Clerk was asked the same question: SA国际影视传媒淭he Assembly will not comment further on in camera matters dealt with by the Board of Management, nor confidential matters discussed with commission counsel,SA国际影视传媒� Nicole Bonnell, legislature spokesperson, stated on Dec. 2.
Jacobson told SA国际影视传媒 in October that he had been of the understanding that his affidavit was to be private and confidential and to be only seen between himself, Norn lawyer Steven Cooper and inquiry lawyer Laprairie.
He became aware that the ClerkSA国际影视传媒檚 Office had been privy to the affidavit when he was asked to excuse himself from an in-camera Board of Management meeting Oct. 4. That meeting had to do with MercerSA国际影视传媒檚 return to the Legislative Assembly.
SA国际影视传媒�(Assembly law clerk ) Sheila MacPherson said SA国际影视传媒業 think Mr. Jacobson should declare a conflict because of the affidavit he submitted to the Norn inquiry with regards to Mr. (Tim) Mercer,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� Jacobson told SA国际影视传媒 in October. SA国际影视传媒淚 asked Mr. Rutland to answer me: SA国际影视传媒楧o I need to declare a conflict?SA国际影视传媒� He said, SA国际影视传媒榶es, you do because of what you submitted in your affidavit.SA国际影视传媒� Those were his exact words.SA国际影视传媒�
Corroborating witness accounts of altercation with minister
The contents of the Jacobson affidavit, as reported by SA国际影视传媒 on Dec. 3, detailed a heated verbal and physical altercation that took place between Clerk Tim Mercer and Minister Shane Thompson on March 13, 2020.
SA国际影视传媒 spoke to two anonymous witnesses SA国际影视传媒� staff members - after the incident who stated that Mercer angrily approached Thompson and slapped his hand and pushed him just before MLAs were to gather for a caucus meeting. They saw MLA Jacobson intervene, taking both men into his office.
One of those staff, because they felt the assembly was an unsafe workplace, filed a complaint with the WorkersSA国际影视传媒� Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC). NNSL reached out to the WSCC asking about the status of the complaint but they were not able to reply before deadline. When asked at the time, spokesperson Maggie Collins said the WSCC SA国际影视传媒渃anSA国际影视传媒檛 release information about particular reports received or actions the WSCC may be taking (under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act).SA国际影视传媒�
In the sworn affidavit, Jacobson, the longest MLA and a former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, further accused Mercer of manipulating and controlling members collectively and individually. He said MercerSA国际影视传媒檚 altercation with Minister Thompson amounted to a SA国际影视传媒減hysical assaultSA国际影视传媒�. He quoted Mercer as shouting threat toward Thompson: SA国际影视传媒淚 will bury you, you fat fSA国际影视传媒攌SA国际影视传媒�.
When asked to comment at the time, Mercer insisted the argument did not turn violent.
SA国际影视传媒淲e had a heated discussion about a matter at the end of a long day,SA国际影视传媒� Mercer stated in an email. SA国际影视传媒淚t ended as quickly as it began with mutual apologies, which were fully accepted on both sides. There was no shoving or physical contact of any kind. He and I have enjoyed a close and effective working relationship for nearly five years and it is as strong or stronger now than it ever was. ISA国际影视传媒檓 also pretty sure he could take me.SA国际影视传媒�
Minister Thompson, to date, has declined to describe publicly what occurred between himself and Mercer that day. The alleged altercation was not included in the Terms of Reference given the recent Quintet consultant report looking into various complaints Mercer had created a SA国际影视传媒渢oxicSA国际影视传媒� workplace in the assembly.
The Quintet report indicates the consultant interviewed 30 people deemed relevant to their work. Jacobson was not one of them.
