With no MLAs coming forward to trigger an investigation by the conflict commissioner, Hay River businessman Jack Rowe reluctantly stepped into the breach to blow the whistle on Jane Groenewegen.
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 13/01) - Hay River businessman Jack Rowe has triggered an investigation of the business dealings of Health and Social Services Minister Jane Groenewegen.
"It's been a year and a half since she was appointed as minister and she still hasn't got the ownership of her companies aligned the way it should be and it appears she doesn't want to," said the former mayor of the South Slave community.
"If that's the case, she shouldn't be a sitting minister."
Rowe filed the complaint "last Thursday or Friday." In it he cites two examples of business dealings in Hay River in which the minister's inside knowledge may have benefited her.
In an apparent contravention of conflict-of-interest legislation, Groenewegen has remained listed a director of two companies she owns.
Groenewegen represents the riding Rowe lives in and is his business rival. Rowe's real estate company competes directly for commercial leases with Greenway Holdings, one of Groenewegen's companies in Hay River.
Rowe said one example in the complaint dates back five years. The other dates back to last July, when the government issued a call for proposals for lease space in Hay River. Greenway was awarded the lease.
"We've got a sitting minister with 90 per cent of her space leased out to government or quasi-government agencies," Rowe said.
Groenewegen's companies hold leases with the NWT Liquor Commission, Hay River Housing Authority, Financial Management Board Secretariat and NWT Power Corp.
Earlier this year, the conflict-of-interest commissioner ruled Groenewegen had violated conflict law by using a vehicle owned by one of her companies. Carol Roberts ruled the violation was not significant enough to warrant a public inquiry.
Groenewegen referred all inquiries to the conflict-of-interest commissioner, saying it would be inappropriate for her to comment while an investigation is ongoing.
Last Tuesday, the minister's executive assistant said Groenewegen would not be commenting because she had yet to receive advice from her lawyer.
Conflict commissioner Carol Roberts, a Vancouver-based lawyer working on contract to the government, said she has forwarded a copy of the complaint and is awaiting a response from Groenewegen.
Roberts said she did not know how long the investigation would take.
"It all depends on how long it takes for the member to respond, how detailed the response is and how many people have to be interviewed," said Roberts.
Rowe said compelling ministers to comply with conflict-of-interest law should not be the responsibility of private citizens.
"If government itself was doing its job, individuals wouldn't have to come forward and file a complaint," Rowe said. "In a territory where government is 50 per cent of the economy, what repercussions might something like this have?"
Calls to Premier Stephen Kakfwi were not returned by deadline.
