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NWT - Premier Floyd Roland is under fire again, this time for claiming a government allowance on a Yellowknife home where he no longer lives.

Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen wrote to conflict of interest commissioner Gerald Gerrand last week, asking him to investigate after a news report revealed that Roland has not changed his statutory declaration to reflect his new circumstances.

Premier Floyd Roland is under fire again, this time for claiming a government allowance on a Yellowknife home where he no longer lives. - NNSL file photo o

Roland left his wife and family last year after an affair with a legislative assembly clerk but still lists his rented home in Yellowknife as his residence and claims a benefit that Groenewegen estimates to be around $4,000 a month.

Citing the news report, Groenewegen told the legislative assembly last Friday "the premier's statutory declaration of residency indicates a different address than where he lives and a different address than that recently filed with his conflict of interest disclosure."

"Although the premier and his new partner have a combined income that exceeds $250,000 a year he asks if we would have him turn his wife and children out, and have they not already been through enough," Groenewegen said in a prepared statement.

"That's a question the premier needs to answer, not ask us or the public," Groenewegen said.

Groenewegen was the author of a non-confidence motion that narrowly failed to unseat Roland and he accused the MLA of putting her personal spin on the story and using "abusive and insulting language to created disorder" in the legislature.

"I've had a discussion with her about my situation, but she again tries to add to the story and build on something," Roland complained.

Roland did not reply to requests for an interview. Drew Williams, acting communications director for the cabinet, said the premier is "the tenant of record (on his family's home) and he is entitled to that benefit.

The legislation that governs MLA benefits doesn't touch on the detail of where the MLA is actually living, Williams said, "but the policy is for MLAs to have their families in town."

Quoting statements by Roland that "he has been repeatedly assured that he complies with the territorial benefits and housing policy," Groenewegen said the assurance came from cabinet secretary Dave Ramsden who was appointed by the government.

"I'm asking for an impartial ruling by the conflict commissioner," Groenewegen said.

In an interview, Groenwegen said Roland now shares a house with Richard Edjericon, chair of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, and said that the GNWT has an interest in many development permits that come before the board.

"Where is the distance that is supposed to exist between the government and the board," she asked, and speculated on whether Roland is paying rent in his new residence.

"If he's not, then that is a benefit he's not entitled to," she said.

Roland is not the first MLA to run afoul of rules on housing benefits. Former cabinet minster Roger Allen and Bobby Villeneuve, MLA for Tu Nedhe, were both ordered to repay thousands of dollars after it was ruled that they had improperly received the allowance.