Wildfire public inquiry choices aren’t black and white, says Morse

The ongoing argument over whether to stage a public inquiry into last year’s wildfires isn’t as simple as yes or no, the new Frame Lake MLA says.

Julian Morse was one of two regular MLAs who sided with cabinet to narrowly force the postponement of a debate about holding a public inquiry last week.

Premier RJ Simpson has said he requested that postponement to spend more time working with regular MLAs on “finding common ground.” Simpson says a public inquiry is unnecessary with two departments, ECC and Maca, already commissioning after-action reviews led by third parties.

However, nine regular MLAs voted against the premier’s motion to postpone the debate – necessitating a tie-breaking vote from Speaker Shane Thompson – and some regular MLAs say only an independent inquiry would be fully separate from government.

The debate is now expected to go ahead on February 22.

Speaking to Cabin Radio, Morse said his constituents had made clear that they wanted “a public review process that is separated from government” but he was “open to taking time to make the best and most informed decisions.”

He plans a constituency meeting involving an expert who can explain to constituents that the options on the table are not simply yes, hold a public inquiry, or no, don’t bother.

Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart and Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya have proposed using the Public Inquiries Act to set up an independent inquiry led by a four-person panel.

Morse called that “the far end of the spectrum in terms of what can be done.”

“It’s a legal proceeding. There tend to be lawyers involved [and it] has a tendency to have a fair bit of cost attached to it,” he said.

“I’m hoping to get an idea of what that cost might be so we can just make sure that on February 22, when the motion comes back to the table, I’m making the most informed decision I possibly can.”

‘Things were happening pretty quickly’

When Premier Simpson put forward a motion to postpone the debate last week, the legislature’s rules gave him no ability on the floor to explain why. He made no explanatory statement in advance.

Speaking to Cabin Radio afterward, Simpson said he had wanted to wait and allow more consultation with Indigenous governments and attempt more collaboration with regular MLAs.

Morse said he wasn’t even aware of Simpson’s rationale when rising to support the postponement.

“I would have loved to hear his reasoning,” Morse said.

Asked if the premier hadn’t explained to regular MLAs that he was going to seek a postponement, Morse replied: “Things were happening pretty quickly. I’ll say that.”

In a Facebook post, finance minister Caroline Wawzonek said she supported a postponement as “it was worth taking a few more days to ensure that more detailed options for the structure, nature, process and cost of this work are available to the public when the debate occurs,”

That suggests cabinet will oppose the public inquiry plan set out by Testart and Yakeleya at least partly on cost grounds.

Wawzonek suggested an “external review panel or commission body” could be other options instead of a formal public inquiry, while noting that communities minister Vince McKay had earlier said Maca’s after-action review would be “a transparent and open process” and the largest such review “ever undertaken by this government.”

Prior to being elected, McKay had been a fierce advocate for independent scrutiny of last year’s wildfires and evacuations.

“Governments investigating themselves doesn’t work,” he said during the fall 2023 election campaign.

“What I’m looking for is a public review process that is completely separated from the government, that the government does not control, that is fully independent,” said Morse after Friday’s debate postponement.

Morse said the process must “give the people of the NWT a voice, the ability to share, and give government staff a voice.”

“If the conclusion is it has to be an inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act … and that is what constituents want, that is exactly what I’ll vote for,” he said.

“The premier has already made it public that he’s not in favour of an inquiry. My challenge back to cabinet now is: what are you going to bring to the table that satisfies the public’s desire for it to be arm’s-length from government?”