SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Jane Groenewegen painted a picture of a divided legislature at the conflict-of-interest inquiry concerning Premier Floyd Roland on Tuesday.

Bob Bromley testisfies at the conflict-of-interest inquiry concerning Premier Floyd Roland. - Erika Sherk/NNSL photo

Last year, regular MLAs had a list of grievances against the cabinet ministers and premier, including concerns over bad communication, fairness and favouritism, she said.

MLAs would speak frankly about this in committee meetings, sometimes even naming individuals, said Groenewegen, MLA for Hay River South.

During the meetings, "we say things we don't necessarily mean, they come out in the heat of the moment," said Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, who also stood as witness.

MLAs thought they were safe to do so, he said, as the meetings were meant to be confidential.

Roland's confession in November to having an affair with high-level legislative clerk Patricia Russell is the reason why the inquiry was called. As principal clerk, Russell sat in on confidential meetings where the premier was not present.

Six MLAs, including Groenewegen and Bromley, wrote a letter in February to territorial conflict of interest commissioner Gerald Gerrand, who called the inquiry.

During her testimony Groenewegen said Roland had intimated on several occasions he knew things from "confidential" meetings. She mentioned a particular incident during a December caucus meeting.

"I believe he said that day in caucus, 'I know things about all of you and I'll use them if I have to.'"

The leaking of information has become a focus of the inquiry. Last month, Roland's lawyer Kathy Peterson pointed a finger at a yet-unnamed MLA as the one passing information to the premier.

When questioned, Groenewegen said that it is "not uncommon" for an MLA to share information with a cabinet minister.

"Maybe it's about getting work done, maybe it's about forming a liaison, maybe it's about winning confidence of a cabinet minister," she said.

The MLAs, including Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro, who also took the stand yesterday, tried to direct the focus back to the question of Roland's alleged conflict of interest.

"The institution demands that we be honest, ethical, that we maintain the public trust and confidence," she said, adding that the fact Roland broke that trust must be acknowledged.

That the premier - who is married with children - had a relationship with Russell was not for her to judge, said Groenewegen.

"It's not what he did - we work with people who are everyday in all different types of relationships and circumstances - but what he didn't do. He did not disclose that the relationship existed."

It was necessary to explore the situation, she said, in order to uphold the standards of the legislature.

"It's kind of a slippery slope," she said. "If something like this happens, who knows, what's next? Where does it end?"

"I fully anticipated the premier would offer his resignation," said Bromley, of his response when the news broke. When that did not happen, he helped draft the letter to bring "clarity" to the situation, he said.

"We wanted it to be clear ... this is OK, or not," said Bisaro.

Today, Roland and Russell will stand as the last witnesses. Adjudicator Ted Hughes will hear final submissions and arguments on Friday and then prepare his report.