Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 22/00) - The conflict-of-interest commissioner has ruled Deputy Premier Jane Groenewegen violated conflict of interest law, but not seriously enough to warrant a public inquiry.
The Oct. 23 complaint centred on a Groenewegen's use of a vehicle owned by her family business. The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires members to distance themselves from their private business dealings.
In her ruling, commissioner Carol Roberts said Groenewegen should have known better but said the contravention was not substantial and dismissed it.
Groenewegen launched a conflict of interest complaint that ultimately led to the resignation of premier Don Morin during the last assembly.
Private proceeds
The government should not be regarding Impact and Benefits Agreement payments to residents as income, argued North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty last week.
Lafferty said government policy on IBAs is inconsistent. Payments made to individuals are deducted from income support on the one hand, but not counted as income by the NWT Housing Corporation in its calculation of rents geared to income.
Lafferty told Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jake Ootes last week IBA payments are land claims money and should not be regarded as regular income.
"I've asked for a legal opinion from Mr. Ootes and he won't give me one," said Lafferty.
Rights made in the North
The days of the North relying on Ottawa for rulings on complaints of discrimination will soon be over.
Premier Stephen Kakfwi last week released a draft Northwest Territories Human Rights Act.
"This legislation will replace the Fair Practices Act, which has been our human rights law since 1966," said Kakfwi. "The Fair Practices Act is a good law, but over the years, human rights legislation has advanced and we have not kept up."
The Human Rights Bill proposes the creation of a Northwest Territories Human Rights Tribunal, a quasi-judicial body that would have the final say on human rights complaints.
Currently, all complaints of discrimination in the NWT -- including the outstanding pay equity dispute between the government and the are heard by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
