COVID-19 detection at N.W.T. Legislature delays public inquiry into MLA's conduct

Day five of the public inquiry looking into MLA Steve Norn's alleged breach of the Legislative Assembly's code of conduct was cut short as inquiry staff were sent home after a positive case of COVID-19 was detected in the Legislature. 

Though the inquiry is being carried out virtually, the court clerk, technical team and interpreter were present in the legislature and had to be sent home to isolate and arrange for testing. 

It was expected to be the last day of evidence in the public inquiry, which is examining whether or not the MLA for Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh breached the Legislative Assembly's code of conduct in breaking his mandatory self-isolation period and making inaccurate statements to the press about it.

Before the hearing adjourned, Maurice Lapraire, counsel to the sole adjudicator, was questioning Glen Rutland, the acting clerk of the Legislative Assembly.  

After Norn was advised of his positive COVID-19 test, Rutland testified that he asked the Legislative Assembly's sergeant-at-arms Brian Thagard to check the building's security footage "as a due diligence."

"My comment to the sergeant-at-arms was that 'I'm sure he hasn't been here, but let's double check,'" Rutland said at Friday's hearing.

Norn had returned to the N.W.T. from a trip to Alberta on April 4 and was supposed to isolate for 14 days, as per the territory's public health measures.