Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon says he accepts an integrity commissioner’s finding that he acted inappropriately in orchestrating a campaign to have Fort Resolution’s nurse-in-charge fired.
Commissioner David Phillip Jones KC found Edjericon had violated the code of conduct for MLAs when he publicly criticized nursing staff at the community’s health centre and lobbied behind the scenes for the nurse-in-charge to be removed.
The nurse was not fired but was placed on leave and ultimately chose to move out of the territory.
Jones said an external investigation into claims about the nurse – which looked into allegations of racism, rude and disrespectful behaviour, and putting community members at risk – concluded all of the accusations were unsubstantiated.
In a Friday statement issued by his lawyer, Edjericon said he would pay the $2,500 fine the commissioner recommended if MLAs confirm that punishment when they reconvene.
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The MLA said he would also accept a formal reprimand that Jones had recommended.
However, Edjericon said he stood by his concerns about health services in Fort Resolution and asserted he had acted “without malice and with the interests of those who elected me foremost in my mind.”
In his statement, Edjericon said he had been a “rookie MLA” and was “learning on the job and anxious to do the best possible work for my constituents.”
“I acknowledge that I could have done things better and commit to doing so into the future. This has been a learning experience and I believe has made me a better representative,” he stated.
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Jones had ended his report by saying that “being a member is not carte blanche to make or repeat unverified and unfounded allegations.”
“Members have an obligation to inform themselves about the facts. It is inappropriate for a member to orchestrate a campaign for an employee of a public body to be transferred, suspended or terminated,” he wrote.
Edjericon says he stands by concerns
Though Jones quoted an external investigation’s conclusion that all of Edjericon’s allegations against the nurse could not be substantiated, Edjericon maintained on Friday that he had “no reason to believe anything I was told was inaccurate or incomplete.”
“I did not, and do not, accept the findings of the investigation into health services in Fort Resolution,” he wrote, “but I do accept the findings in the integrity commissioner’s report into my actions. My future actions will be guided by the commissioner’s findings.”
Edjericon said he will make no further public comment until MLAs address the integrity commissioner’s report in the legislature.
The Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA is being represented by Steven Cooper, the lawyer who also represented Edjericon’s predecessor in the seat, Steve Norn.
Norn was similarly investigated by the integrity commissioner over his failure to isolate for 14 days – as required at the time – after returning to the NWT following travel to Alberta during the Covid-19, and for “misleading the public regarding his compliance with the self-isolation order.”
Ultimately, MLAs voted to remove him from his seat and Edjericon took over following a by-election.
This time, the fine and reprimand recommended by Jones are at the lower end of the range of available punishments compared to the public inquiry into Norn’s actions and the eventual loss of his seat.
MLAs do have the power to reject the commissioner’s recommendation and either impose a lesser penalty or take stronger action. The legislature reconvenes for its fall sitting on October 17.
