NNSL (Mar 25/98) - Premier Don Morin wants Conflict of Interest Commissioner Anne Crawford to step aside, claiming she is too biased to investigate a complaint against him.

The chances of that happening, however, are remote. On Monday, Crawford dismissed Morin's allegations and made it clear she is not about to give up her responsibilities.

"I find all three alleged grounds of bias to be without merit and I refuse to disqualify myself," said Crawford.

"I would suggest that there needs to be grounds considerably more compelling or logical or well documented before I would put aside those duties that the assembly, during a period of rational deliberation, asked me to undertake."

Morin's lawyers, the Edmonton firm of Hustwick, Wetsch, Moffat and McCrae, sent a letter dated March 10 to the commissioner by regular mail, asking that Crawford "temporarily step aside ... in relation to the complaint made by MLA Jane Groenewegen. Our client has a reasonable apprehension that you will perform your duties in a (biased) manner."

Three grounds of biased were noted in the letter.

The first involves a commission of inquiry into an 1995 complaint against Morin (left). The premier claims Crawford told his sister that he "may have been cleared of any wrong doing during the inquiry but he was not innocent."

Crawford denies making such a statement and said Morin's allegation lists no name, no date, no place, no context and no actual quote.

The second allegation was that Crawford represents Nunavut Tunngavik, a politically active organization, and is therefore potentially biased.

Crawford dismissed that complaint as well, noting the assembly hired her knowing full well she had other clients.

"The position of commissioner is a four-year term position, without retainer and paid on a modest hourly basis. There is no pension. I am not likely to quit my day job," said Crawford.

The third allegation is that no formal complaint has been lodged by Groenewegen.

It was argued that Groenewegen's complaint lacks detail and requires additional specifics, something Crawford in recent weeks has taken it upon herself to do.

"(Morin's legal) counsel suggests that requesting 'further clarification of the nature of the complaint' constitutes bias. Counsel suggests that retaining commission counsel constitutes bias," said Crawford. "There is little logic and no merit to this allegation. I do not intend to step aside on this basis."

Last Wednesday -- a week after Morin's lawyer posted the request for disqualification -- Crawford ordered the GNWT to provide publicly funded legal advice to help the Hay River MLA co-operate with the investigation into her conflict-of-interest complaint against Premier Don Morin.

Groenewegen's initial request for funding was denied by the GNWT's Management Services Board on Feb. 23. Crawford's announcement overturns the board's decision.

Groenewegen filed the complaint with the conflict of interest commissioner on Feb. 16. She said Morin may have violated a section of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act that deals with maintaining public confidence, impartiality and the acceptance of benefits which could erode public confidence.

The complaint deals in part with the Lahm Ridge Tower lease, in which the GNWT signed a long-term contract with two men with close ties to Premier Don Morin after the building's previous owner had tried unsuccessfully to secure a similar deal.