N.W.T. MLA spearheads 2nd attempt to oust premier

A Northwest Territories MLA has renewed calls to remove Floyd Roland as premier, days after the territory's conflict of interest commissioner called an inquiry into Roland's extramarital affair with a legislature staffer.

Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen told the legislative assembly Friday that leadership has sunk to an all-time low. She is calling on the public to write to their MLAs and register their views on Roland's leadership.

Groenewegen said she is not out to get the premier or take over his job. In fact, she said she didn't know of anyone else who could step into the job over a year ago, when she and the territory's other MLAs were elected.

"A year has gone by. I've got to know quite a few members better, and you know, I do think we have options," she told the assembly.

"But it's going to take the backbone and the leadership of the collective membership here to stand up and say, 'You know what? We've got some problems here, we need to deal with them, let's face it head-on. Let's go for a change of leadership here. We have got people capable of stepping into that role.'"

On Wednesday, conflict-of-interest commissioner Gerald Gerrand ruled that it's reasonable to believe Roland's affair with Patricia Russell, who was then an officer of the legislature, compromised his duty to MLAs and the public.

Gerrand called for an adjudicator to investigate Roland's conduct. The adjudicator's probe will likely entail an inquiry with public hearings.

Groenewegen was one of six MLAs who filed the original complaint to Gerrand, alleging that Russell may have passed confidential information from committee meetings to Roland.

Both Roland and Russell have denied the allegations. Roland said he would not step aside as premier while the inquiry takes place.