YELLOWKNIFE (Tuesday, June 15, 2021) -- The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Integrity Commissioner, Mr. David Phillip Jones, Q.C., has investigated a complaint lodged against the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh Steve Norn, and has concluded that the complaint must be directed to an inquiry before a Sole Adjudicator.
On May 6, 2021, the Integrity Commissioner received a complaint from MLA Rylund Johnson, made at the direction of Caucus, regarding MLA Steve Norn’s alleged breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct pertaining to his COVID-19 self-isolation. This launched an investigation that resulted in the Integrity Commissioner’s recommendation of an inquiry.
As stated in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Integrity Commissioner is mandated to compile a report outlining the details of his investigation. The Act requires the report to be presented to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, MLAs, and the public upon completion. As the Legislature will not sit until October, the Speaker has made the report public by way of a news release (Attachment A). As required by the Act, the report will also be tabled on the first day of the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
The Integrity Commissioner’s direction means that the Assembly’s Board of Management will recommend the appointment of a Sole Adjudicator to the Speaker. After the Speaker appoints the Sole Adjudicator, that person will determine whether any hearing in the inquiry is conducted in public or in private. After conducting their inquiry, the Sole Adjudicator shall submit a disposition report to the Speaker, with written reasons, either dismissing the complaint, or finding that Mr. Norn breached the Code of Conduct and recommending disciplinary action per s. 106(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.
Attachment A: Investigation Report with Appendices