Arviat (May 10/04) - Former house speaker and Arviat MLA Kevin O'Brien's problems with the Government of Nunavut (GN) continue to mount.

Kevin O'Brien

O'Brien has been under intense media scrutiny since an editorial appeared in the Kivalliq News this past month, which referred to him being charged with a liquor offense in Arviat this past summer.

Premier Paul Okalik has denied any knowledge of the charge until learning of it through the media.

The battle lines between O'Brien and the GN widened this past week when it was learned the government may be looking for a way out of lease agreements it holds with O'Brien on four Arviat properties.

Nunavut Housing Corp. president Peter Scott said his department has taken steps to address its concerns.

"We have ongoing issues with Mr. O'Brien with two of the four units concerning obligations he's failed to live up to at his end of the agreement," said Scott.

"It's a case of getting two of the four units up to occupiable standards."

Scott wouldn't comment on the time frame involved with the process, or if there would be any cost to the GN to walk away from the contracts.

"That would take further review before we could determine that."

No connection to charge

Scott said the action being taken by the corporation has nothing to do with the liquor charge levied against O'Brien this past summer.

"This has been an ongoing issue that we've been working on with Mr. O'Brien since well before the charge was known publicly.

"This could go beyond the current situation and end up as a legal issue, so I'm reluctant to give a lot of information or detail on it."

Scott said as of yet, the Arviat matter has not gone outside the Housing Corp.

"We haven't involved the Department of Justice.

"However, Justice would be the first department notified if we did have to commence some form of action against Mr. O'Brien."

Despite repeated attempts, O'Brien could not be reached by News/North.