Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 13/01) - The legislative assembly created a new committee Tuesday to rule on deputy premier Jane Groenewegen's allegations of bias against the conflict of interest commissioner.
Established by a fast-tracked vote of the assembly, the committee's membership includes board of management members Brendan Bell, Joe Handley, Michael Miltenberger, Floyd Roland plus Leon Lafferty.
In a press conference arranged after he was made chair of the committee, Bell said it will set that date for its first meeting by the end of the week and decide if it will be open to the public.
The committee must report by July 23 on an allegation that statements Carol Roberts made to the media and in e-mail messages, raise "reasonable apprehensions of bias."
A special session of the assembly will be called to deal with the report.
"The commissioner herself had asked for direction from the assembly concerning the release of her report," said David Hamilton, clerk and secretary to the board.
The letter was received by Speaker Tony Whitford June 7, he said.
"The assembly has given its direction through the establishment of this special committee," Hamilton said.
The appointment of the committee renders irrelevant arguments the board had solicited from lawyers for Groenewegen and commissioner Carol Roberts on the board's authority to ask the commissioner to step aside.
Katherine Peterson, the assembly's law clerk, said a committee established by the assembly has more legal authority to deal with Groenewegen's application than the board, which must stay within the legislation that created it.
The act that created the board gives it the authority to remove the commissioner "for cause or incapacity" only when the legislative assembly is not sitting.
"When the house came into session the board of management's authority to hear this matter ceased," said Bell.
The decision to establish the committee was made at a meeting of MLAs Monday.
The same day, the legislative assembly issued a press release saying the board would be dealing with the issue this week.
