An ethics complaint lodged against Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson by NWT Assembly Speaker Frederick Blake Jr. may be on its way to fizzling out.
In correspondence obtained by SA国际影视传媒, David Jones, Northwest Territories integrity commissioner, appears to lean toward JacobsonSA国际影视传媒檚 position, which is that he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 break any rules.
According to a Sept. 23 complaint sent to Jones, Blake alleged that Jacobson broke the code of conduct for MLAs by not declaring a conflict of interest during an Aug. 24 in-camera meeting of the Board of Management, a committee of MLAs whose responsibilities include the operation of the Legislative Assembly apparatus and its employees, including the clerkSA国际影视传媒檚 office.
The meeting was held to discuss a challenge to the Steve Norn inquiry. NornSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, Steven Cooper had filed an application to halt the inquiry based on SA国际影视传媒渃onflict and institutional bias.SA国际影视传媒�
Blake said that an affidavit filed by Jacobson in the Norn inquiry concerning the workplace conduct of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly should have been followed by his recusing himself from the August meeting.
Both Blake, as chair, and Jacobson, as a regular member, sit on the board of management.
According to Blake, Jacobson sat in on the August in-camera meeting involving assembly law clerk Sheila MacPherson briefing the board about CooperSA国际影视传媒檚 application.
Blake said that the other board members - Caitlin Cleveland, Diane Archie, Paulie Chinna as well as the Speaker - had no knowledge of JacobsonSA国际影视传媒檚 affidavit for the Norn defence. As a result Jacobson should have left the meeting based on the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.
SA国际影视传媒淎t no time during the Board meetings did Mr. Jacobson declare a conflict. Rather, he participated in the boardSA国际影视传媒檚 discussion with respect to its legal options.
SA国际影视传媒淭he boardSA国际影视传媒檚 concern is that by aligning himself with Mr. NornSA国际影视传媒檚 application, and not disclosing the interest to the board, Mr. Jacobson had access to confidential and privileged legal advice and communications with respect to the very matter with which Mr. Jacobson was involved.SA国际影视传媒�
In a Dec. 3 response from Jones, however, the Integrity Commissioner wrote that after corresponding with Jacobson, BlakeSA国际影视传媒檚 complaints appeared to have no substance because the board of management meeting took place the morning of Aug. 24 and Jacobson filed his affidavit later that same afternoon.
SA国际影视传媒淚n his response, Mr. Jacobson explains both a) the circumstances in which he was requested by Mr. NornSA国际影视传媒檚 legal counsel, Mr. (Steve) Cooper, to prepare the affidavit in question; and b) the timing of that request, namely in the afternoon of Aug. 24, 2021, after Mr. JacobsonSA国际影视传媒檚 participation in the board of managementSA国际影视传媒檚meeting that morning,SA国际影视传媒� Jones wrote.
SA国际影视传媒淩egardless of the wisdom of Mr. Jacobson providing that affidavit, or its contents, I am provisionally of the view that he was not in a conflict of interest situation during the Board of Management meeting that morning and therefore there was no reason for him to recuse himself from that meeting.SA国际影视传媒�
Jones finished the missive by asking if the BOM had any comments on his provisional position. The BOM held an in-camera meeting at the rise of the House on the last day of the current sitting of MLAs, Thursday, Dec. 9. No details on what was discussed were available before press deadline.
Jones declined comment on the ethics complaint when reached by email on Dec. 7.
SA国际影视传媒淚 do not comment publicly on my work as Integrity Commissioner, except in the reports which I make to the Legislative Assembly,SA国际影视传媒� he wrote.
Jacobson declined comment when reached Dec. 9.
