It sometimes seems like we live in an increasingly polarized world.

SA国际影视传媒淭he leftSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渢he rightSA国际影视传媒� can never see eye to eye anymore.

The pro-vaccine crowd and the anti-vaxxers SA国际影视传媒� throw in pro and anti-masks as well SA国际影视传媒� argue tooth and nail.

Now we can add the summary report on workplace conditions at the Office of the Clerk of the NWT Legislative Assembly as another issue where viewpoints are wildly conflicting.

In early March, the GNWT announced that it hired Ottawa firm Quintet Consulting to look into allegations of a SA国际影视传媒渢oxicSA国际影视传媒� workplace at the clerkSA国际影视传媒檚 office. This was the territorial government flexing some muscle and paying what must be a substantial price for the same company that delved into then-governor general Julie PayetteSA国际影视传媒檚 controversial mistreatment of staff. The GNWT could have chosen to go with Mom and PopSA国际影视传媒檚 Investigations Inc., but reached much higher, therefore expectations were accordingly elevated.

Four individuals had stepped forward to accuse clerk Tim Mercer of inappropriate conduct, mostly bullying and harassment: Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh MLA Steve Norn, chief electoral officer NWT Nicole Latour, committee adviser April Taylor and an anonymous person. Mercer, hired in this role in 2003, has the SA国际影视传媒渄uties and functions of a deputy minister managing and administering the legislative assembly,SA国际影视传媒� according to his online job description.

The Quintet reportSA国际影视传媒檚 conclusions were released on Aug. 26. Its investigators determined that the clerkSA国际影视传媒檚 office was not a toxic workplace. The complaints lodged by Norn, Latour and Taylor were deemed not credible or unfounded. The unnamed person, however, was said to have a legitimate grievance related to a breach of confidentiality

SA国际影视传媒淢r. MercerSA国际影视传媒檚 conduct was found to be inconsistent with the applicable code of conduct and with the letter and spirit of the confidentiality requirements of the harassment-free and respectful workplace policy,SA国际影视传媒� the 25-page summary report states. Furthermore, investigators ascertained that the workplace is SA国际影视传媒渄ividedSA国际影视传媒� and has SA国际影视传媒渁 lack of unity.SA国际影视传媒� So thereSA国际影视传媒檚 plenty of room for improvement.

Mercer released a statement afterward indicating that he is pleased with the reportSA国际影视传媒檚 findings and he accepts them fully.

Not lawyer Steven Cooper. Not at all.

Cooper, who represents Norn and Latour in this matter, came out swinging on Aug. 27, calling QuintetSA国际影视传媒檚 report the SA国际影视传媒渂yproduct of a dysfunctional and corrupt system.SA国际影视传媒�

He argued that the conclusions are SA国际影视传媒渓argely irrelevantSA国际影视传媒� due to limited terms of reference and an SA国际影视传媒渁rtificial short time-frame.SA国际影视传媒�

Norn and Latour also affirmed that they were not satisfied with the reportSA国际影视传媒檚 findings.

Cooper took aim not so much at Mercer, but at civil servants in general, who he says have gained too much influence. He asserted that the SA国际影视传媒渃ivil service that intimidates, manipulates and terrorizes those elected or appointed to represent.SA国际影视传媒�

One can find plenty of NWT residents who have been singing a similar tune for many years.

So now we wait. We want to see the full report and the action plan that will be applicable to the Office of the Clerk, both of which deputy clerk Glen Rutland committed would be made public.

But, Cooper is right, itSA国际影视传媒檚 also time for a long overdue public conversation on the role of the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 senior civil servants, the unelected people who many perceive as really running the government. Some of them are knowledgeable, well-intentioned and incredibly valuable. Even so, the time is ripe to examine the scope of their duties and the checks on their powers.

Then we can say that this investigation and report led to some truly meaningful transformation.