Jack Danylchuk
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 26/05) - Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins is dismissing questions about his election campaign spending as a "tempest in a teapot" and defended a taxpayer-financed trip to Japan.

"This is a silly issue," Hawkins said after a media report that he did not include the use of a motorhome in his campaign expenses.

"It's a tempest in a teapot, an attempt to make a mountain out of a mole hill."

The motorhome belonged to Daryl Dolynny, a director of Aurora World Corp., which invited MLAs to Aichi, Japan last summer to promote winter tourism.

Hawkins was the only MLA to act on the invitation and used his constituency funds to finance the journey - a practice since banned by the legislative assembly's board of management. Despite the slap from the board, Hawkins defended using tax dollars to pay for the trip to Japan.

"Aurora tourism from Japan is important; it means $20 million a year to Yellowknife, it's a big deal," Hawkins said.

Hawkins produced letters from Conflict of Interest Commissioner Ted Hughes who cleared the trip because it was a general invitation extended to all MLAs.

Depending on how Chief Electoral Officer Glen McLean rules, the use of Dolynny's motorhome could cause more problems for Hawkins who - at $28,574 - spent more than any other MLA to win his seat in the legislature. The maximum allowable is $30,000.

Hawkins could be fined, jailed and lose his seat if McLean decides that the motorhome is an unreported contribution to his election campaign.

McLean, quoting from the Elections Act, said Tuesday that penalties include a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail.

Additional punishments for "corrupt or illegal practice" include being barred from election, sitting as an MLA, and voting or holding appointed office for five to seven years.

Hawkins described Dolynny as "a supporter who made no cash contribution to my campaign, and carried a banner on the side of the motorhome for less than two weeks.

"There were a lot of mini-vans with campaign posters. What makes my vehicle more important? Is it because mine was larger?" said Hawkins. "I inquired during the election and it didn't seem to raise any questions. I asked if it had to be accounted for. There was no answer," Hawkins said.

"It was no different than using vans to drive voters to the polls on election night. If we're accounting for banners on vehicles, do we start accounting for signs on buildings? Where does it end?" Hawkins said.

"At the end of the day, the facts will stand. I would like to hear from Mr. McLean. I'm ready to do whatever he decides. If Mr. McLean feels I need to make an adjustment I will."

McLean said he would interrupt three weeks of leave from his post to review the issue and consult with legal counsel.