Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 17/99) - The final cost of the conflict of interest inquiry examining the conduct of former premier Don Morin is $1.7 million.

The legislative assembly's clerk, David Hamilton, confirmed the figure last week.

Hamilton also said members of the assembly's secretive Management and Services Board decided before Christmas to pay the legal fees of Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegan, Morin, business person Mike Mrdjenovich and former GNWT official Roland Bailey.

"Their (legal) bills are being audited now," he said. "We want to make sure that any costs paid from public funds are (directly related) to the inquiry."

He said the board will not be paying Morin's fees for a legal appeal that continued after Conflict of Interest Commissioner Anne Crawford's report was delivered to assembly Speaker Sam Gargan in December.

"The majority of the costs have been paid now," he said.

At the time the decision over the bills was made, members of the Management and Services Board were: Gargan as chair, Kivallivik MLA Kevin O'Brien, Kitikmeot MLA Kelvin Ng, Nunakput's Vince Steen and Inuvik's Floyd Roland.