"There are a lot of technical issues surrounding something like this. What kinds of documents you can give a commissioner? What can you say? What can't you say? It's outside the forum of the house," said Groenewegen on Monday.

"I don't have the resources to go out and hire a lawyer to advise me now that my request has been denied. I think it's good for people to say they want me to do this and get the answers to these questions. I'm willing to go out on that limb, for lack of a better phrase, but do I have to pay too?"

The Management Services Board is made up of Speaker Sam Gargan, cabinet member Kelvin Ng and ordinary MLAs Floyd Roland, Vince Steen and Kevin O'Brien.

Groenewegen said the government claims there is no precedent for her request, but she knows of other MLAs that have had considerable support from the board for legal help.

"I don't need legal defence. I just need legal guidance. I just know my resources don't match the resources I'm laying the complaint against. I don't have staff or access to the Department of Justice," she said, recalling a meeting she had with Morin late last year when the premier brought a deputy minister into the meeting as a witness.

Groenewegen said she believes Morin has gone to the Management Services Board requesting legal assistance, but spokespersons for both Morin and Gargan refused to discuss why Groenewegen was denied legal assistance or if the board will pay for Morin's legal advice.

Groenewegen is now planning to go to the conflict commissioner and ask for advice.

"If the taxpayers are going to pay to defend the person the complaint is laid against, how does the public feel about that? The public wants me to find the answers but I got to do it on my own, on my own book? Let it be a warning to people, this is what happens when you ask questions."

On Feb. 16 Groenewegen announced she had filed a complaint with the conflict of interest commissioner, Anne Crawford.

She said Morin may have violated a section of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act that deals with maintaining public confidence, impartiality and the acceptance of benefits which could erode public confidence.

It is expected to take another week for Crawford to decide whether the complaint warrants investigation or not.