MLA accepts N.W.T. integrity commissioner's finding that he violated code of conduct

Richard Edjericon, an N.W.T. MLA, says he accepts an integrity commissioner's findings that he breached the MLAcode of conduct for trying to get a nurse fired but he says he still doesn't accept thefindings of a separate, earlier investigation which found thatallegations of unprofessional conduct by that nursewere unsubstantiated.

"As with any new MLA, I was learning on the job and anxious to do the best work possible for my constituents," Edjericon, who represents the district ofTu Nedh-Wiilideh,said in a written statement on Friday. "I acknowledge that I could have done things better and commit to doing so into the future."

A lawyer for Jennifer Patterson, the nurse who brought the complaint against Edjericonlast year, meanwhile,said she is "overwhelmed and relieved" by the commissioner's findings.

In an investigation report released on Thursday, N.W.T. Integrity Commissioner David Phillip Jones said Edjericon should be fined $2,500 and reprimanded for "blindly and willfully repeating unsubstantiated allegations" against Patterson, theformer nurse-in-charge in Fort Resolution, N.W.T.,in 2022.

As a result of thoseallegations of unethical and unprofessional misconduct, the territory's health authority suspended Patterson in December 2022 and ordered an external investigation. The investigators looked into complaints that Pattersonhad been racist toward Fort Resolution residents, was putting community members at risk, and was rude and disrespectful toward other health centre employees.

The investigators later concludedthat none of the allegations against Patterson weresubstantiated, and her suspension was ended.

MLAquestions external investigation

Edjericon says he does not accept the findings of that external investigation.

"Health services in my constituency were the subject of considerable attention and complaint from my constituents," his statement on Friday said. "I had, and continue to have, many communications with elders and others asking me to try to help resolve these issues.

"I have no reason to believe anything I was told was inaccurate or incomplete."

Steven Cooper, Edjericon's legal counsel, said in an interview with CBC News that his client had raised concerns about the process of the external investigation that the healthy authority ordered.

One of those concerns, Cooper said, was a lack of Chipewyan interpreters. Cooper said thatexcluded elders in Fort Resolution from approaching investigators or meant they weren't able to speak comfortably with them in their own language.

"Why that's important is because it was elders that were the source of many of the complaints that Rick [Edjericon] brought to the public notice and which ultimately resulted in the investigation."

Nurse 'overwhelmed and relieved'by findings

Austin Marshall, the lawyer representing Patterson, said in an interview on Friday that it's "rather questionable" that Edjericon is taking issue with the investigation of the allegations themselves.

"There's an element of uncertainty, if you will, coming from MLA Edjericon on how willing and sincere he is to be governed by whatever direction this all takes with the Legislative Assembly," Marshall said.

Marshall said his client is relieved thather name is being publicly cleared.

"My client has shown courage and concern for her nursing colleagues, and standing up for the safety and security they must be assumed of if they are going to live and work in small communities," he said. "They will not come to these communities if they have to live in fear."

Marshall said Edjericon's campaign against Patterson was "venomous and vicious" and that the cost and emotional drain had been huge.

Cooper said his client was remorseful, but that Edjericonhad not to Cooper's knowledge expressed that remorse directly to Patterson.

Cooper also said that if the Legislative Assembly adopts the integrity commissioner's recommendation to reprimand and fine Edjericon,his client would pay it.

"He'll move on, a better man and a better MLA," said Cooper.