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NUNAVUT/span>
After seven months of allegations and a scathing integrity commission report, South Baffin MLA Fred Schell has officially resigned as cabinet minister.

Premier Eva Aariak, in a motion to accept the integrity commissioner's report, said when she handed Schell his portfolio, she expected him to be "squeaky clean." - photo courtesy of GN Legislature South Baffin MLA Fred Schell read a nine-page statement in the legislature Nov. 5 announcing his resignation as cabinet minister, saying "the experience has been stressful and grueling." - photo courtesy of GN Legislature

"I accept the integrity commissioner's report," said Schell on Nov 5, concluding a nine-page statement to house members as well as ending a months-long probe into his conduct as minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

Integrity commissioner Norman Pickell, who began a formal investigation last May, found Schell made inappropriate inquiries about two Nunavut government employees to act on private grudges he harboured, and in addition, gave false evidence at the hearing examining his conduct.

Schell said he was relieved to finally deal with the commissioner's report, admitting there was wrongdoing, and called the experience stressful and grueling.

"I wouldn't wish it on anyone."

With the legislature sitting for its final day, Schell took time to speak his piece, arguing the allegations leveled against him were bizarrely handled, in particular on Mar. 8, when he was summoned to an unusual meeting with Premier Eva Aariak's principal secretary, Paul Crowley, and cabinet secretary Daniel Vandermuelen.

"At the meeting they stated they had legal information in their possession. In fact, they waved the document in my face," said Schell, adding the two told him he should resign from cabinet.

"They alleged this information could get me into trouble with the integrity commissioner. They refused to disclose the legal information and the evidence they were supposed to have had."

"I believe everyone should have the right to know what they are being accused of," said Schell. "Was I scared? You bet I was. Some would consider this blackmail. I was blindsided and told to resign for what I did wrong without ever receiving any communication with the premier herself - is that leadership?"

Reversing some allegations, Schell blasted Crowley, who required a subpoena to appear before the quasi-legal integrity commission, saying it showed disrespect to the legislature. Schell also said the manner in which the premier pursued the whole process had "consumed uncountable hours" for public servants and "cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Schell has been sitting as a minister without a portfolio since Aariak stripped him of his cabinet duties last March.

A minister can only be removed from cabinet through a legislative assembly vote or by resignation.

Since losing his portfolios, Schell continued to collect a ministerial indemnity of $35,863, in addition to his MLA salary of $90,396.

Last week, Schell single-handedly voted 'nay' on a house motion to accept the integrity commissioner's report, which required unanimous consent. Aariak said after that day's sitting that the report had been hanging over the legislature long enough.

"I'd really like to see this over and done with as soon as possible," she said.

On Monday, Aariak said when Schell was sworn into cabinet Sep. 30, 2011, she instructed him clearly.

"I told him, in no uncertain terms, that he would have to be 'squeaky clean.' He gave me his word that he would do so," she said. "Mr. Schell was well warned. He chose to ignore those warnings. He continued to exercise the same poor judgment. We now have the bare facts and the unbiased conclusions before us. The report speaks for itself."

Schell shot back against the premier in his statement.

"I would have thought that a premier in charge of leading the government would take a more appropriate action to immediately resolve the issue," he said.

Before tendering his resignation, Schell also stated ministers were increasingly hindered by bureaucracy and that evidently the premier was not being well served by her senior officials.

"I can attest bureaucracy has become far too powerful under this premier," he said.

The other members of Nunavut's legislative assembly voted to accept the integrity commissioner's recommendations, which include having Schell pay a $10,000 fine, make apologies and consult the advice of elders. Schell abstained from the vote. He will remain as MLA, a recommendation also made in the report.

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