Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 05/98) - Premier Don Morin is not new to the conflict of interest inquiry business.

In February, 1995, Thebacha MLA Jeannie Marie-Jewell, who resigned her post in December as Speaker of the House, laid a complaint against Morin, who was Minister of Public Works and Services at the time.

The allegations focused on the relationship between Morin and a B.C. based company Foulger Aviation Services.

Marie-Jewell claimed Morin was in conflict over a decision to cancel a tanker base services contract with Denis-Metis Holding of Fort Smith. The cancellation was based on a fire management review by Flouger Aviation Services.

After researching Foulger Aviation, Marie-Jewell found that one of the company's consultants was Norman Zigarlick, who was also head of the Deninu Kue Development Corporation.

Zigarlick had what Marie-Jewell called close financial ties to Morin. Zigarlick also rented Morin's home in Fort Resolution. Morin was asked to step down from his post pending the outcome of the inquiry.

Joel Fournier, chief conflict of interest commissioner guided a three-member panel inquiry into Marie-Jewell's allegations. It wrapped up in three days. Morin was found not to be in conflict but the three-member panel called for a tightening of disclosure rules for MLAs.

The chief commissioner said that given the evidence and the occurrences that took place, there was good reason the inquiry had been called to have the matter aired.

He also proposed changing the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to make MLAs meet annually with the NWT conflict commissioner to go over their statements.

Seven witnesses were called at the inquiry including assembly clerk David Hamilton and two deputy ministers.

Morin testified his decisions were made to maximize benefits and economic opportunities for Northerners.

The complaint cost taxpayers $65,000 and an additional $15,000 was spent on the initial investigation leading to the three-day hearing.

Less than three weeks after clearing Morin, conflict of interest commissioner investigated Nellie Cournoyea. Karl Mueller of Enterprise laid the complaint. This complaint, which was quickly dismissed, cost the government $7,000.

The conflict of interest commissioner has had one other complaint in 1991. The investigation involved Amittuq MLA Titus Allooloo, then Renewable Resources Minister and his relationship with Betty Harnum, the language commissioner for the NWT. The complaint was dismissed.