Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/00) - It has taken a year and a half, but Jane Groenewegen's legal bill for the 1998 conflict of interest inquiry is now paid up.

But a difference between a recommendation on costs given by Conflict of Interest Commissioner Anne Crawford and the direction given to the board by the legislative assembly, means some of Groenewegen's costs will never be paid from the public purse.

The board of management directed last week that Groenewegen's lawyer, Barry Chivers, be paid $18,482. The costs are associated with Groenewegen's court challenge of the board's original decision not to pay her legal costs for the inquiry.

By agreeing to settle the outstanding bill, the board avoided an April 6 court date in which Groenewegen's lawyer, Barrie Chivers, was scheduled to ask a judge to force the board to pay up.

Groenewegen said she was happy with the board decision to pay the remainder of the legal bill, but does not agree with the decision to not pay other costs amounting to $14,249.

"I don't think the people who contributed to the legal fund should have to pay any of this and I certainly don't think I should have to pay the cost of pursuing this," said Groenewegen. "I mean, he was found guilty."

The inquiry eventually led to the resignation of then premier Don Morin, after he was found to have violated conflict of interest guidelines.

Groenewegen said she will not be pursuing the matter further.

Then conflict of interest commissioner Anne Crawford recommended that all of Groenewegen's costs for the inquiry -- "from start to finish" -- be paid. That was not the direction the board got from the assembly, though.

"The only direction the board got from the assembly was that the legal costs be paid," said board secretary David Hamilton.

Non-legal costs include Chivers' travel and advertising and administration for the legal defence fund Groenewegen started when the government refused to pay for her lawyer.

"I ended up paying a big chunk out of my own pocket as well, but on top of that I also put three or four thousand dollars into the legal fund," Groenewegen said.

The money the Board of Management agreed to pay will be used to provide refunds to those who contributed to Groenewegen's legal fund.

Groenewegen said those who contributed to the defence fund can expect to receive 65-70 cents back for every dollar they contributed.