Conviction opens Deh Cho seat
Fort Providence photographer Ronald Bonnetrouge to run for Nadli's seat
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, October 22, 2015
DEH CHO
Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli has been suspended from the legislature in the wake of a 45-day jail sentence for assault causing bodily harm.
Legislative assembly clerk Tim Mercer stated in an e-mail that Nadli's jail sentence automatically disqualifies him from sitting or acting in his capacity as MLA.
Nadli's seat will not be considered vacant until his opportunity for appeal runs out. However, with the 17th Legislative Assembly expected to be dissolved on Oct. 25, Mercer said no by-election is needed for the Deh Cho.
In the meantime, he is no longer eligible to receive reimbursement as MLA.
Mercer said this means there is effectively no MLA for the Deh Cho at this time, leaving constituents without representation until the territorial election closes.
"Constituents are free to contact government departments, ministers (and) even other MLAs if they require assistance, or work through local and regional leaders," Mercer said.
If Nadli is still in jail when nominations for the election open, he will not be eligible to run.
Nadli's sentence comes months after he was arrested on April 5 for slapping his victim and breaking her wrist. He turned himself into the RCMP and pleaded guilty in June to assault causing bodily harm.
At the time of his plea, he agreed to participate in an alternative justice program offered by the territorial government.
His participation was listed as a mitigating factor during sentencing, along with the fact he pleaded guilty and had turned himself in.
During sentencing, Nadli told the court his actions had had a negative impact on his family and apologized for the pain he had caused.
"I regret my actions ... I have to explain to my son that what I did was wrong," he said.
Justice Robert Bourassa highlighted the problem of domestic violence at all levels of society when handing down his sentence, adding that violence "is not limited to scoundrels and ne'er-do-wells."
He added that if mitigating factors had not been present, Nadli's sentence could have been months long.
Nadli has previously been convicted of assault against the same victim.
Nadli was elected to the legislative assembly in 2011. Prior to that, he sat as Deh Cho First Nations Grand Chief and Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation sub-chief.
With the Deh Cho seat open, Fort Providence photographer Ronald Bonnetrouge has confirmed his intention to run for MLA.
