Sole Adjudicator Appointed in Conduct Complaint against MLA for Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh

Sole Adjudicator Appointed in Conduct Complaint against MLA for Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh

YELLOWKNIFE (June 28, 2021) – The Speaker of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Frederick Blake Jr., has appointed the Honourable Mr. Justice Ronald L. Barclay, Q.C. to act as the Sole Adjudicator into a complaint against Mr. Steve Norn, the MLA Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh.

Mr. Rylund Johnson, the Member for Yellowknife North and Chair of Caucus, filed a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner alleging that Mr. Norn breached the Members’ Code of Conduct when he broke self-isolation rules when returning to the NWT from Alberta.

The Integrity Commissioner investigated the complaint and directed that an inquiry be held before a Sole Adjudicator. Once the Integrity Commissioner has ordered an inquiry, the Board of Management must recommend the appointment of a specific Adjudicator to the Speaker, pursuant to section 103 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.  

Mr. Justice Barclay is a retired judge from Saskatchewan, who recently served 10 years as the Conflict of Interest Commissioner for that province. Mr. Justice Barclay has experience conducting these types of inquiries and was selected from a list of people approved as Adjudicators by the Assembly.

As the Sole Adjudicator, Mr. Justice Barclay 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.

For more information, please contact:
Glen Rutland, Acting Clerk
Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly