Board limits legal representation
Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Fort Smith (May 11/01) - There is no limit on what MLAs accused of conflict of interest can spend on legal advice, the Legislature's board of management ruled last week.
But their lawyer's daily charge can't top $250, and taxpayers won't be on the hook for the lawyer's travel expenses, the board decided at a meeting in Fort Smith.
By comparison, the maximum for a senior lawyer under legal aid in the territory is $102 an hour or $609 a day.
The new rules are retroactive to last year and will have an impact on Jane Groenewegen's current defence on conflict of interest complaint made by Hay River businessman Jack Rowe.
The health and social services minister retained Edmonton lawyer Barry Chivers and said "normally it would cost more, but fortunately for me he's a lawyer with a moral conscience."
Groenewegen is a member of the board that includes chairperson Tony Whitford, and MLAs Brendan Bell, Michael Miltenberger and Floyd Roland.
Katherine Peterson, law clerk for the legislative assembly, said the board's decision will provide members with adequate council and bring clarity to the Conflict of Interest Act.
"There is at least some capacity to oversee (costs) whereas in the past, there was none," said Peterson, who will review expense claims.
The question of costs surfaced after the inquiry into conflict of interest allegations against former premier Don Morin ran up legal bills of $1.7 million.
Taxpayers covered Morin's costs and those of witnesses at the hearing.
Peterson said MLAs can retain lawyers from outside the territory, but will have to pay the travel costs from their own pocket.
"There could be a lot of transportation expenses involved and we have to be careful -- this is public money we are talking about," Peterson said.
