No Nunavut Integrity Act breaches in 2014-15, ethics boss reports

Ted Richard, Nunavut’s integrity commissioner, said in his 2014-15 report that he did not not have to investigate any MLAs that year for Integrity Act breaches. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavut MLAs enjoyed one more year free of any ethics investigations, Ted Richard, Nunavut’s Integrity Commissioner, said in his 2014-15 annual report.

“There has been no requirement for the Integrity Commissioner to commence a formal review of any alleged contravention of the Integrity Act by any MLA since 2012,” Richard wrote.

“This bodes well for a culture of integrity and public confidence in our democratically elected Legislative Assembly.”

Richard’s latest report covers the period between Sept. 9, 2014 to Sept. 8, 2015.

The former South Baffin MLA and cabinet member Fred Schell was the last MLA to be investigated for Integrity Act breaches — in 2012.

This past year, the commissioner’s office received several complaints alleging MLA violations of the Integrity Act.

But all of those complaints were dropped, Richard said.

That’s because the alleged acts either did not contravene Nunavut’s Integrity Act or the complainant chose not to continue with the matter and provide a sworn affidavit.

Several MLAs consulted the Integrity Commissioner in 2014-15 for advice on possible infractions.

The most common clarifications sought by MLAs from the commissioner concerned the acceptance of gifts in the course of their duties and possible conflicts of interest.

A new task assigned to the office this year came in a request from Nunavut Premier Peter Taptuna, who asked for confidential disclosure statements from 15 deputy ministers and other deputy heads.

The confidential statement discloses the income, assets, liabilities and Government of Nunavut contracts held by deputy ministers or family members.

The premier was advised of the review’s results in a confidential letter.

“It is my understanding that the premier intends to seek such assistance from the Integrity Commissioner on an annual basis,” wrote Richard.

Although Nunavut’s last territorial election occurred in 2013, several outstanding investigations under the territory’s new Elections Act are included in Richard’s 2014-15 report.

Richard said 10 people failed to file financial returns for election contributions and expenses by the required deadline.

Under Nunavut’s Elections Act, authorities have 12 months to start a summary conviction prosecution.

In his report, Richard said some of these matters weren’t brought to his attention until March 2015.

For example, Moses Appaqaq — a former Northwest Territories MLA and 2013 candidate for Nunavut’s Hudson Bay MLA seat — was one of five people who accepted a compliance agreement from the integrity commissioner.

In a compliance agreement, the offender agrees to conditions in return for a stay of prosecution.

Usually this involves some type of public apology or recognition.

The fall sitting of Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly ended Nov. 9 in dramatic fashion with the ousting of Family Services Minister Jeannie Ugyuk from cabinet.

Ugyuk has since resigned as MLA for Netsilik. MLAs then chose Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes and Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq to serve in cabinet.

As of Nov. 10, Taptuna had not assigned portfolios to the new ministers.

Integrity Commissioner Annual Report 2014-15 by NunatsiaqNews