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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The man who leaked confidential e-mails from a government agency and lost his job as a legislative assembly security guard may be about to lose another government position.

Bill Turner: Could lose human rights commission seat due to leaked e-mails.

Bill Turner received a letter Monday from legislative assembly Speaker Jackie Jacobson, informing him that his days with the NWT Human Rights Commission are likely numbered.

Turner, who is also a policy analyst with the government's Business Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC), has been a member of the five-person human rights commission since October 2010 when he was appointed to a four-year term by the legislative assembly.

In a Yellowknifer story on Nov. 9, Turner admitted he had handed media a series of e-mails between Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny, BDIC lawyer Douglas McNiven, and Pawan Chugh, the BDIC's CEO. Dolynny wrote the e-mails beginning Oct. 4, the day after winning his seat in the legislative assembly.

One e-mail contains an offer from Dolynny to help the government with a "very expensive problem" by providing information that might lead to Turner's dismissal. In exchange, Dolynny wanted the government to drop its lawsuit against him. Dolynny and three other business partners are being sued for $100,000 for money owing on a failed tourism venture.

The expensive problem to which Dolynny referred was a legal challenge Turner launched against the GNWT's affirmative action policy earlier this year, claiming it infringed on the rights of aboriginal job-seekers from outside the NWT.

Jacobson couldn't be reached for comment but his letter states that, in light of Turner's original denial that he had taken the document, and his later admission that he was indeed the culprit, his actions "appear to be contrary to the good conduct and integrity expected of statutory officers of the assembly."

The legislative assembly's board of management is considering a motion to be brought forward to the legislative assembly calling for Turner to be removed from the human rights commission, according to Jacobson's letter.

The board of management consists of MLAs Frederick Blake, Robert Bouchard, Jackson Lafferty, Dave Ramsay, and Jacobson. Dolynny is listed as one of four alternates.

Turner said he is appealing to Jacobson to hold a public hearing into his case before going to MLAs for a vote.

He said he doesn't know yet whether he will lose his BDIC job or if police intend to charge him for theft and breach of trust.

Yellowknifer requested an interview with Mary Pat Short, chair of the NWT Human Rights Commission, but was told that she wasn't going to comment on personnel matters.

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