SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The NWT conflict of interest commissioner has declared a complaint by Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins against Transportation Minister David Ramsay "frivolous and vexatious" which warrants no further investigation.
That, despite a second report from the territorial comptroller general criticizing the Department of Transportation over free rides for family of cabinet ministers, including Ramsay's girlfriend and two children, on a chartered aircraft from Yellowknife to the Deh Cho Bridge opening in Fort Providence on Nov. 30.
The two reports, tabled in the legislative assembly Tuesday, were filed in response to an allegation of misconduct made by Hawkins that Ramsay had brought family members to the opening ceremonies for the bridge without paying for the flight, despite knowledge of government policy that dictates non-government passengers must pay for their flights ahead of time.
Neither report found Ramsay at fault.
"Ramsay acted innocently and appropriately in all circumstances surrounding this event. When billed for the share of cost of air flight for his spouse and children, he promptly paid it," concluded Conflict of Interest Commissioner Gerald Gerrard in his report.
This report ultimately dismissed Hawkins' allegation that Ramsay breached public confidence on the grounds that it was "frivolous and vexatious."
"Whenever you set out to try to tarnish somebody's reputation, you better be sure you know what you're talking about and in this case (Hawkins) didn't, and he doesn't," Ramsay told Yellowknifer when asked about the ruling, adding he had no problem with paying the $360 fee for bringing his family to the bridge opening.
If the complaint had never been filed, those who brought family members on the charter plane to the opening would never have paid, Hawkins maintained.
"Nobody believes anyone would have paid unless this complaint came forward," he said. "It's only $120 (per passenger), but my job is about accountability and transparency and I stand by that firmly on this one."
Missteps were taken by the Department of Transportation in approving non-government passengers for the charter planes, Comptroller General Warren St. Germaine concluded in his report on whether the charter flights complied with GNWT policies.
Acting on the department's advice, Ramsay issued an e-mail invitation on Nov. 19 to government officials to bring family members along on a "first come, first booked basis."
Of the 22 non-government passengers, four were determined to qualify as in the public interest and exempt from paying for the flights. Two of these were reporters, including one Yellowknifer reporter.
An additional eight were found to be travelling for business purposes. These included the master of ceremonies and seven consultants who were involved in the construction of the bridge.
The remaining 10 non-government passengers were family members of cabinet and government workers and should have been given special permission by the premier and paid their share of travel costs to the airline, Air Tindi, before the flight, Germaine concluded.
"We were responsible for the error in the advice given to the minister," said department spokesperson Earl Blacklock, who made the decision after it was determined there would be empty seats on the larger, Dash 7 aircraft. "We were basing it on factors we still considered in the taxpayers' interest and treating it as a recognition event."
The department was also responsible for issuing a contract change order on Nov. 19 to change from a smaller King Air 200 to the Dash 7, which Blacklock said was necessary to accommodate all government dignitaries who wished to attend.
The larger aircraft cost an additional $3,053 but allowed the department to cancel one of the charter buses scheduled to travel to Fort Providence from Yellowknife that day, said Blacklock, which saved the department "thousands."
A confirmed final tally for the bridge opening ceremonies was not available by deadline, but $42,000 was budgeted for the day's events and Blacklock said he believes the department stayed within budget.
While mistakes may have been made, Blacklock said at the end of the day it was all worth it.
"The celebration was excellent," he said.
