Board asks MLAs to help it fill policy vacuum
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 23/01) - The management and services board is asking MLAs to help it create a policy that would limit the amount taxpayers would pay to cover the legal expenses of a member accused of conflict of interest.
The policy would deal with such issues as the hourly rate member can be reimbursed for legal services, witnesses costs and coverage when a member is found to be in breaking conflict.
Deputy Premier Jane Groenewegen did not attend the meeting.
In an April 20 letter to board chairman and Speaker of the House Tony Whitford, Groenewegen wrote, "it would be difficult for me to participate in light of an outstanding complaint against me."
Groenewegen is the subject of a complaint by Jack Rowe, who is alleging the Hay River MLA broke the law by remaining a director of a real estate company she owns.
The issue of costs arose out of a 1998 public inquiry into complaints lodged by Groenewegen, then an MLA. The inquiry led to Don Morin's resignation as premier.
It also resulted in taxpayers being stuck with a legal bill of $1.7 million. The money was mainly for lawyers representing Morin, Groenewegen and two witnesses called by Morin.
Though Groenewegen was absent, Finance Minister Joe Handley attended the meeting to tell the board of his concerns about limiting the resources a member can use in a conflict investigation.
"It could be the end of my career, the beginning of bankruptcy," said Handley of members' need to be able to defend themselves against a complaint.
Handley asked the board to let MLAs review the issue and make their own recommendations before a draft policy is developed.
Though there was initially some resistance to Handley's request, board members later tossed the political hot-potato to the assembly.
Legislative assembly law clerk Katherine Peterson, who had issued repeated requests for policy guidance during the meeting, was instructed to prepare a policy options paper.
The paper will be circulated to members within in 10 days. MLAs will have a week to respond.
