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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Premier and his cabinet dodged a bullet earlier this session in narrowly defeating a non-confidence vote by regular MLAs. However, Premier Floyd Roland may not be out of the woods just yet.

A group of six MLAs filed a conflict of interest against Roland for his involvement with a legislative assembly committee clerk.

Regular MLAs have filed a conflict of interest complaint against premier Floyd Roland. - NNSL file photo

The contention is the clerk had sat in on closed-door regular MLA committee meetings, where sensitive information could have been passed along to the premier.

"The air has to be cleared," said Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay, on Thursday.

"This shouldn't be hanging over us."

Gerald Gerrard, the NWT's conflict of interest commissioner, confirmed he received the letter on Tuesday.

He said he has taken steps to contact Roland to give him reasonable notice and invite him "to make submissions to me to see if an actual inquiry should go forward."

Roland went on record on Feb. 6 to address the affair and said no information passed between the clerk and himself.

He later apologized for the distraction the affair provided to the workings of the legislative assembly on Feb. 9.

In discussions that led up to the non-confidence vote, some MLAs stated their discomfort over the relationship.

On Feb 6, Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy said the clerk, who sat in on all economic development and infrastructure, and most priorities and planning meetings, was privy to all their discussions.

"These committees are the only place where we can freely vent our frustrations about cabinet and political issues and plan our daily business," he said.

"It is supposed to be a safe place where we can trust that what we say won't be shared with anyone."

"Nobody in their right mind would allow or support the hiring of a spouse or immediate family member of any member of the executive council into the position of clerk of committees. It would be seen as a clear and obvious conflict of interest."

"The premier having an intimate relationship with the clerk is no different. It is still a conflict of interest."

A caucus meeting was called in December to discuss the relationship. Following the meeting, Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen said she did not have any proof information was passed between the clerk and the premier, but said some of the responses from cabinet ministers raised eyebrows because of the details she received.

Roland would not comment on the complaint as he had not formally heard from the Gerrard, said cabinet spokesperson Drew Williams.

"We haven't received a formal notice that the complaint has been filed," said Williams.

It could be weeks before the commissioner makes a decision whether to proceed with the complaint or not.