Fired biologist reinstated
Arbitrator says dismissal too severe

Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 31/00) - Mitch Taylor received a belated Christmas gift this year -- he got his job back.

An arbitrator has ruled Taylor, a highly respected polar bear biologist, was wrongfully dismissed from his job by the territorial government on Dec. 14, 1998.

After considering seven days of testimony given at a hearing in Iqaluit last June and August, arbitrator Tom Jolliffe concluded a three-month suspension without pay was more appropriate than firing. He ordered the government give Taylor his job back and pay him wages for all but three of the 12 months he has been out of a job.

Taylor said he had nothing to say about the decision other than he was happy to have his job back.

Sustainable development deputy minister Katherine Trumper said she would not comment on the decision because it was a personnel matter, except to say, "discussions are continuing on this situation."

Those discussions likely centre on where and how Taylor will be brought back into the fold.

Taylor had worked with the territorial government for 12 years when he was fired.

The arbitrator's report recounts the deteriorating relationship between Taylor and junior biologist Peter Krizan, who Taylor hired in June 1998. Krizan is currently working as a polar bear biologist for the Nunavut government.

The relationship between the two strained to the breaking point when equipment problems and delays in camp preparations arose during a Sept. 1998 field camp.

Upon returning to Iqaluit, Krizan complained of Taylor's behaviour to department assistant director Stephan Atkinson and Trumper, then assistant deputy minister. He was to put his complaints in writing. Krizan later submitted a seven-page letter to the director criticizing Taylor's leadership ability and behaviour.

Jolliffe wrote that the letter, "can only be read as a full-blown attempt on (Krizan's) part to attack (Taylor's) employment situation." The arbitrator noted Krizan's and Taylor's versions of what happened during the fall camp often conflicted.

The arbitration ruling also noted comments from another researcher who had worked with Krizan and said the junior biologist's involvement in Taylor's firing sounded very familiar.

The researcher cited a letter Krizan had sent to the deans of graduate studies at Lakehead University stating the researcher and a Parks Canada warden "acted in an unfair and unethical manner."

Jolliffe concluded Taylor deserved to be disciplined for yelling and likely swearing at Krizan during the fall camp.

"Taylor's actions during the fall field camp invited a significant disciplinary response," wrote Jolliffe, saying Taylor "acted in an abusive fashion to some degree in his dealing with Krizan and in relating his dissatisfaction with Krizan to others in the manner he did."

During the hearing, support for Taylor's work was well documented.

Other researchers portrayed Taylor as demanding but completely committed to his work.

Krizan said he had no comment on the decision.