Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Monday, May 21, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Jackson Lafferty has apologized to the victim of a sexual assault following a letter of support the Monfwi MLA wrote for the perpetrator, Jonas Bouvier.

"It was never my intention to hurt or harm the victim, their family in any way. I do not condone violence against women. I'm sorry for any harm I've caused. In the future, I will not be writing any support letters on court matters regardless of the circumstances," wrote Lafferty in an email received by News North Thursday morning.

"Once again, extend my deepest apology to the victim and all women affected by violence."

That afternoon in the legislative assembly, Lafferty used a personal point of privilege to apologize again, and commend the victim for coming forward.

" (Writing the letter) showed a lack of sensitivity to the woman who showed great courage to press charges in the first place," he said.

This was an about face for the MLA who was quoted in a May 14 CBC story saying he would have written the letter, even if the victim had been a member of his family. Lynn Brooks, NWT Status of Women Council president, criticized all those who wrote and singled out Lafferty, calling for him to resign.

"We have concerns on several levels, certainly the fact that the perpetrator was clearly the person who should be paying for this assault and this poor woman who was assaulted found herself with no support from her community leaders," Brooks said. "(And) he put his female relatives on notice that if they get assaulted not to come to him for support."

In her victim impact statement to the court, the woman wrote that aggressive sexual advances have caused her to suffer from depression and it has negatively affected her family and caused her to quit a job she loved.

"I never asked him to touch me in the first place," the victim told News North. "Since the trial I'm getting phone calls, people calling me 'bitch.'"

Bouvier was sentenced to five months in prison for what Judge B. Schmaltz called, "the continuing harassment of the victim in her workplace," while sentencing him May 9 in NWT Territorial court.

Bouvier was found guilty of one count of assault and two counts of sexual assault for incidents that occurred while the two were working together at the Colomac mine site.

A separate case before the Human Rights Commission, is investigating why Bouvier was given his job back after being let go following an investigation into the victim's complaints of sexual harassment.

Lafferty, along with Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty, a nun and a baptist minister, wrote letters requesting house arrest for Bouvier. Jonas and the victim, who cannot be named under court order, grew up in Behchoko and have known each other for 30 years.

In a break during question period at the legislative assembly May 15, Lafferty tried to set the record straight.

"This letter has nothing to do with the conviction. I can make a request on sentencing," he said noting Bouvier's family, that includes seven children, relied on Bouvier's financial support.

"As a territorial government we talk strongly on the well being of children and when (Bouvier's) family came to me to write a support letter that was the first thing that came to me, the welfare of the family and children."

With her brother in jail, Suzanne Dryneck told News/North she has taken her brother's place to provide for the family.

Bouvier's wife Lily Ann suffers from dysaphia caused by a case of Salmonella poisoning in 2004, according to court documents.

Lilly Ann said that it was her and her family who approached MLA Jackson Lafferty, Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty and other community members to write letters of support so that Bouvier could continue to provide for his dependants.

"They did not support a sex offender, they supported a family," said Suzanne.

During his interview, Lafferty also offered to apologize to the victim and her family.

"If they are asking for an apology, I can certainly apologize," he said.

- with files from Christine Grimard.