Yellowknife (July 16/04) - The results of an independent probe into the operation of the NWT Liquor Licensing Board are expected to be delayed for two weeks, the premier's office announced Tuesday.

The report, which is currently being compiled by ethics counsellor and former Supreme Court Justice Ted Hughes, was expected to be completed by July 15. That date has been pushed back to July 31 to give Hughes enough time to "collect and evaluate" interview transcripts and reams of internal documents, said Julia Mott, co-ordinator of communications for the premier's office.

Hughes is looking into allegations that senior officials in the Departments of Finance and Justice interfered with the operation of the liquor board, a quasi-judicial body that falls under the jurisdiction of Finance.

The allegations surfaced in February after the Justice Department -- which handles prosecutions under the Liquor Act -- dropped a case against one bar and drastically reduced its recommended penalty against another. Those moves came after deputy minister Don Cooper spoke with one of the bar owners, who expressed his displeasure with the sentences being doled out by the board.

In an internal memo obtained by Yellowknifer through an access to information request, the lawyer handling the cases contends Cooper did not play a role in either decision.

Criticized officials

Several members of the liquor board also criticized officials in the Department of Finance for ignoring their concerns and failing to provide things like basic training for inspectors. Hughes spent the last couple of months interviewing board members and government officials and pouring over internal e-mails and memos.

Premier Joe Handley promised to make the report available to the public in early August.