Public inquiry and code of conduct complaint into Steve Norn cost N.W.T. taxpayers more than $800,000 - Action News
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Public inquiry and code of conduct complaint into Steve Norn cost N.W.T. taxpayers more than $800,000

The NWT Legislative Assembly spent more than $800,000 on the public inquiry and and integrity commissioner's investigation into Steve Norn's breached code of conduct. The inquiry's final report recommended Norn be expelled as MLA. His colleagues voted him out the next week.

Nearly $500,000 alone went to the counsel for the sole adjudicator

The NWT Legislative Assembly spent more than $800,000 on a public inquiry and an integrity commissioner's investigation into Steve Norn's breached code of conduct. The inquiry's final report recommended Norn be expelled as MLA. His colleagues voted him out the following week. (Travis Burke/CBC)

An inquiry into whether Steve Norn broke his code of conduct as an MLA cost N.W.T.taxpayers almost $805,000.

Nicole Bonnell, spokesperson for the NWT Legislative Assembly, provided CBC News with a summary of invoices on Friday afternoon.The largest expense was a payment toMaurice LaPrairie, counsel to the sole adjudicator, of$499,911.

Ronald L. Barclay, the sole adjudicator, earned$127,467 while Steven Cooper, the lawyer who represented Norn, earned $105,875.

Hearings unfolded over the course of nine days, but the entire inquiry took more than a month becauseCOVID-19 was detected at the Legislature which led to a delay in the proceedings.

Approximately $21,000 was spenton each the law clerk and the interpretation services, while the integrity commissioner who investigated the complaint against Norn and called for the public inquiry made just under $12,000.

The remaining fees approximately $17,000 wereoperational costs for the video and audio services, for staff overtime and for the court reporter.

Norn was removed from his seat as MLA for Tu Nedh-Wiilideh in the Legislative Assembly last month, followingrecommendations from Barclay'sreportthat he be expelled. Nornis the first MLA in the N.W.T. to lose his seat at the hands of his colleagues.