Steve Norn has been removed as Chair of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.
The committee has a variety of roles, including reviewing issues with MLA and government behaviour. It also coordinates the work of other committees.
Members voted out Steve Norn, after he was found to have broken his self-isolation after travelling outside the territory in the beginning of April. Norn had admitted publicly to being the confirmed COVID-19 case in Yellowknife earlier in April, and was later found to have broken his self-isolation.
A complaint to the Integrity Commissioner was also submitted by MLA’.s Depending on the verdict of the commissioner, Norn could potentially face being removed as an MLA.
Yellowknives Dene First Nation sent a letter to the Legislative Assembly, calling for Norn to be removed as an MLA.
MLA for Frame Lake Kevin O’Reilly, who is currently the Deputy Chair of the oversight committee, will take over as Committee Chair until a new Chair is elected.
“The Committee took this step to ensure that its focus remains on keeping the government accountable as the territory navigates the ongoing pandemic, the flooding in the Deh Cho region, and the work of the Legislative Assembly,” a spokesperson for the Legislative Assembly said in a statement.
The eleven regular MLAs — those who are not ministers — are members of the oversight committee.
