Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 02/01) - Dressed in Liberal Party red, Premier Stephen Kakfwi's closest political adviser for the last 16 years announced yesterday she is resigning.

Chief of staff Lynda Sorensen and Kakfwi cited the "constant attack" the premier's office has drawn as a result of Sorensen's employment as the reason for the resignation and its acceptance.

Former Chief of Staff Lynda Sorensen and Premier Stephen Kakfwi - Richard Gleeson/NNSL photo

A veteran of territorial politics, Sorensen has been a source of controversy since Kakfwi appointed her to the newly-created position almost two years ago.

The premier was criticized for creating the position in the first place. Sorensen came under fire for her management of Ethel Blondin-Andrew's successful re-election campaign last year and her presence during a March 26 incident in which she and others secretly listened in on a telephone conversation with the conflict-of-interest commissioner.

The former Yellowknife South MLA, federal election candidate and a loyal member of the Liberal Party, Sorensen has been Kakfwi's closest political adviser for the last 15 years. He referred to her as "a loyal employee and great friend."

Among those in attendance at the press conference were Sorensen's husband Art and an official from Blondin-Andrew's Ottawa office.

Neither Sorensen nor Kakfwi would take any questions. Sorensen said she would be making no further comment because of pending legal action from former conflict-of-interest commissioner Carol Roberts.

Sorensen's is the fourth high-level resignation to flow from a special legislative committee investigation of the phone call and a bias charge levelled against Roberts by former cabinet minister Jane Groenewegen.

In response to the committee's recommendations, Kakfwi said earlier this week he would eliminate the position of chief of staff and offer Sorensen the job of his personal assistant.

Reaction to Sorensen's resignation was muted. Kakfwi did not make a statement on it to the legislative assembly.

"Personally, I think this will resolve a lot of the concerns that were out there," said Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent. "Mrs. Sorensen, in my opinion, is doing the right thing."

Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee, a protege of Sorensen's, said she was surprised by the move. "She knows what women candidates, not just MLAs, go through," said Lee, the second female Yellowknife MLA after Sorensen.

Robert's lawyer yesterday confirmed the former commissioner will be taking the territorial government to court.

"We're going to challenge the legality of her dismissal," said Joseph Arvay, adding that the the lawsuit would be filed "soon."