The first day of an inquiry into a complaint about the conduct of MLA Steve Norn ended with procedural wrangling, accusations of political motivation and a still-missing Steve Norn.
The inquiry, overseen by sole adjudicator R.L. Barclay of Saskatchewan, saw its first day close with NornSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, Steven Cooper, appearing by video link from Alberta, applying to have the proceeding adjourned to give him more time to properly review SA国际影视传媒減robably more than 1,000 pagesSA国际影视传媒� of evidence provided by BarclaySA国际影视传媒檚 counsel, Maurice Laprairie.
Barclay explained to the hearing that his title is a SA国际影视传媒渇ancySA国际影视传媒� way of saying SA国际影视传媒渏udge,SA国际影视传媒� and that Laprairie acts as an SA国际影视传媒渆xtension,SA国际影视传媒� or an assistant with the authority to carry out a range of activities on BarclaySA国际影视传媒檚 behalf.
Cooper said he had received documents, holding up one that appeared to be at least an inch thick, as recently as that morning, on Sunday, Oct. 3 and on Friday, Oct. 1.
He said that anyone employing fictitious detective Sherlock HolmesSA国际影视传媒� method of elimination would come to the conclusion that the only reason Barclay insisted the inquiry begin today was that the Legislative Assembly returns to session in 10 days.
SA国际影视传媒淭his date is politically motivated,SA国际影视传媒� Cooper said. SA国际影视传媒淭his does not feel like an inquistion but rather it feels like a prosecution.SA国际影视传媒�
Laprairie countered that the more recent volume of documents he sent over was just a complilation of already-sent material that was shared SA国际影视传媒渁s a courtesy.SA国际影视传媒�
He said Cooper had acknowledged receipt of some of that material weeks or months ago.
He said any blame for delays lay SA国际影视传媒渟quarely on the shouldersSA国际影视传媒� of Cooper, who he said wrote 19 lengthy letters to Barclay since taking on NornSA国际影视传媒檚 case, each of which required a response.
The disclosure has been SA国际影视传媒渇ulsome and timely,SA国际影视传媒� he said, in fact, it represented one of the most organized disclosures heSA国际影视传媒檇 witnessed in 45 years of practicing law before the Court of the QueenSA国际影视传媒檚 Bench and the Court of Appeal in Saskatchewan.
SA国际影视传媒淭here is no basis for this claim.SA国际影视传媒�
Barclay said he would render a decision on CooperSA国际影视传媒檚 request to adjourn at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Oct. 5.
Norn no-shows
The debate took place without one important piece SA国际影视传媒� Norn himself.
When the hearing began at 10 a.m., Cooper said that the member for Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh was experiencing an SA国际影视传媒渆mergent medical issue.SA国际影视传媒�
He did not elaborate on NornSA国际影视传媒檚 condition as he requested an adjournment until the afternoon to provide time for him to get SA国际影视传媒渕edical documentationSA国际影视传媒� from the health-care system. Cooper said he had been trying to get more information about NornSA国际影视传媒檚 condition from a doctor, specifically, whether Norn would be able to attend the hearing.
The matter was adjourned to 2 p.m. Barclay advised Cooper when the session resumed he would have to explain why Norn wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 there.
When the hearing resumed, Cooper had no more proof of NornSA国际影视传媒檚 condition, so a visibly annoyed Barclay declared that the hearing would go on without him.
He said he had arrived at the SA国际影视传媒渋nescapable conclusionSA国际影视传媒� that his non-appearance was a SA国际影视传媒渇urther delaying tactic.
SA国际影视传媒淭his hearing will now proceed,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was going to say SA国际影视传媒榞ood morning, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 now afternoon.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�
Barclay said Cooper had written 19 letters in the lead-up to the hearing, many of them asking for a delay, some calling for the disqualification of his special counsel (another lawyer helping Cooper with the hearing) and for BarclaySA国际影视传媒檚 own removal.
Norn is under scrutiny for possibly violating a code of conduct applicable to MLAs. Norn is accused of not self-isolating for a full 14 days upon returning from Alberta in April and SA国际影视传媒渕isleading the public regarding his compliance with the self-isolation order.SA国际影视传媒�
Barclay, who described his role as a SA国际影视传媒渇ancy word for judge,SA国际影视传媒� is limited to making recommendations to the Legislative Assembly. The possibilities include taking no action, reprimanding Norn, fining him as much as $25,000, suspending him for as long as a month, or declaring his seat vacant.
These actions would have to be taken by MLAs.
