by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 15/97) - A former territorial government official is facing charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving a Yellowknife man.

The allegations against Nelson McClelland stem from incidents that allegedly took place between 1982 and 1986 when the victim was a youth.

McClelland was executive director of Mackenzie Regional Health Service from April 1995 to November 1996 when his position was cut.

Since then, he has been doing contract work for the Department of Health.

He was active on several health boards and served as president of the Health Care Association of the NWT.

McClelland was arrested at his Yellowknife home on Sunday and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 18.

Police say their investigation is continuing and more charges may be laid. The investigation began last fall when the victim approached the Yellowknife RCMP and laid a complaint of assault.

Don Ellis, assistant deputy minister of health, said that the department was unaware of the charges until Monday morning.

"It was a shock to me," he said. "It wasn't anything we had any prior knowledge of."

Ellis said that McClelland played a major role in the development of health care in the NWT. "He was a key player in the development of health boards," he said. "He is extremely well known."