Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Questions over Tu Nehde MLA Bobby Villeneuve's statutory declaration of residence played a part in a decision to audit all regular members' residence claims, said House Speaker Paul Delorey.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that was the only reason," said Delorey. "What has prompted me to ask for the review is some media reports about Mr. Villeneuve have cast a shadow of a doubt on all members."

On Feb. 14 of this year, Villeneuve revised his declaration of residence and had to repay $13,000 in capital accommodation allowances provided to him from October 2006, when Villeneuve said his lease in Fort Resolution expired. But the Tu Nehde MLA rejected the idea he misled or attempted to defraud the government.

"It's not like I was pocketing the money. I wasn't making any money by living (in Fort Resolution)," said Villeneuve, who plans to begin constructing a home there this fall. "I was paying $1,500 a month rent there."

With two children, one in Yellowknife and one in Fort Smith, as well as obligations at the legislative assembly, Villeneuve said he was able to spend only 90 days out of the year in Fort Resolution prior to October 2006. Though he welcomed the audit, the MLA speculated the outcome would vilify members from outside Yellowknife.

"It will put all out-of-town MLAs on display. 'Look at your spending.' That's one of the problems I have with that," he said.

While cabinet members are exempt from making statutory residence declarations, all regular members must complete them. If they do not reside in Yellowknife, or within 80 kilometres, they are afforded an allowance of up to $27,500 a year, which can be used to secure a lease in the capital or the member can choose to stay in a hotel. In order to benefit, MLAs must maintain a primary residence.

Several factors are weighed to determine a member's "primary residence." These include the community where one's children live and are enrolled in school, location of personal possessions, amount of time spent in the community by the member and the mailing address for vehicle registration, income tax and health care.

"Primary residence is defined as the place you normally reside," said Delorey. "But there is no obligation for (any member) to reside in the (region they represent)... Mr. (Jackson) Lafferty resides in Yellowknife but he represents Monfwi and his statutory declaration says that."

Delorey said a complaint was received that Villeneuve had not been living in Fort Resolution since October 2006, "at which time Mr. Villeneuve signed a new statutory declaration."

According to Villeneuve, his lease at the Fort Resolution residence expired at the end of September 2006 and he was forced to find other accommodations after the pipes froze in the original location. With few places available to rent in Fort Resolution, Villeneuve said he had to end his search, take up residence full-time in Yellowknife, which prompted the revision of his declaration.

"I was working with the clerk's office and dealing with it," Villeneuve added. "But finally, I had to say I couldn't (find another place) so I'm living in Yellowknife."

Robert Sayine, the person who made the complaint against Villeneuve, lost a bid for the Tu Nehde seat against Villeneuve in the 2003 territorial election.