Investigator Deems Allegations Against Clerk Of Northwest Territories Most “Unfounded”

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In an independent review by an unelected senior territorial official, three of four complaints of bullying and harassment were found to be unfounded.

The fourth, whose alleged clerk, Tim Mercer, broke confidentiality rules, has been found to be well founded.

Mercer has been accused of publicly humiliating employees and not being able to control his mood.

Earlier this year, other members of the legislature called on Mercer to step down, alleging he had created a toxic work environment in the legislature.

In March, Quintet Consulting of Ottawa, the same company that investigated the allegations against former Governor General Julie Payette, was hired to investigate the case.

The results were released Thursday after a three-day board discussion from August 23 to 25, 2021. The report itself is dated August 20.

The complainants were Steve Norn, Member of Parliament for Tu Nedh-Wiilideh, April Taylor, a committee adviser who works at the Clerk, Nicole Latour, Chief Electoral Officer of the Legislative Assembly and a complainant who was not named in the summary report. .

The anonymous complainant was the only case investigators found “substantiated”.

An independent investigation into allegations of workplace bullying and harassment against NWT Legislative Clerk Tim Mercer has found three of the four allegations to be without merit. (SRC)

Investigators found that much of the evidence gathered around the anonymous complainant’s allegation that Mercer violated confidentiality rules was not in dispute, and that Mercer’s conduct was “viewed as inconsistent. with the applicable code of conduct and with the letter and spirit of the harassment investigation confidentiality requirements. Free and Respectful Workplace Policy. “

The report notes, however, that the Harassment-Free and Respectful Workplace Policy does not apply to the fourth complainant.

The report acknowledges that the allegations have had a clear impact on those involved.

“In addition to occurring in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, the events being investigated occurred within a single consensus government system, as a result of already investigating harassment. concluded, and largely in the public domain, ”writes Quintet Consulting in the report. .

“We believe these factors all led to the exceptional nature of the situation.”

Mercer has been Clerk of the Legislative Assembly since 2003. As Clerk, he is responsible for advising Members on the rules of the Legislative Assembly as well as their pensions and benefits. It also provides advice and written statements to the Speaker on matters, such as points of order, raised during sittings of the legislature. The Clerk also oversees an office that provides research and administrative assistance to Members of Parliament and their standing committees and manages the public communications functions of the legislature.

In an initial written response to the allegations, Mercer said that in 2018 there were two investigations into similar allegations against him. Mercer said the two viewed the allegations as unfounded.

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