Steve Norn
Steve Norn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories | |
| In office October 1, 2019 – November 23, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Beaulieu |
| Constituency | Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | non-partisan consensus government |
Steve Norn is a former Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election.[1] He represented the electoral district of Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh.
Prior to his election to the legislature, Norn worked as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and as an insurance broker, and competed on Canada's Smartest Person in 2016.[2]
On November 23, 2021 Steve Norn was expelled from the Legislative Assembly. This was the culmination of a nearly year long saga months after Norn breached Covid-19 protocols while contagious with the virus, his actions contributing to what was at the time the worst Covid-19 outbreak in the Northwest Territories earlier that year. The public backlash to Norn was intense, and Norn responded by levelling lawsuits against local journalists for allegedly stoking public outrage, contributing to northern news outlets barring public comments on articles due to racist and violent attacks against him. He was eventually charged with two counts of violating the public health act.[3] The ensuing investigations mandated by the Legislative Assembly were marred with leaks and obstruction on behalf of Norn, who ultimately began to lash out verbally and electronically towards his elected colleagues. In late 2021 the ensuing inquiry on his behavior determined that Norn purposefully misled the public and broke the Legislative Assembly code of conduct on multiple occasions. Justice Ronald Barclay recommended that his seat be declared vacant.[4] Norn brushed aside the report and recommendations, but his colleague Freida Martselos, MLA for Thebacha, requested a vote on his expulsion as soon as the Legislative Assembly returned for the last session of the year. The Legislature then unanimously voted to expel Norn. Norn was not present for this vote, he attempted to resign just minutes prior to the vote taking place, but this was rejected by the Speaker.[5] This was the first time in Northwest Territories history that members of the legislature removed a colleague.[6]
References[]
- ^ Ollie Williams, "Only Nahendeh left to elect MLA, 18 others are elected". Cabin Radio, October 1, 2019.
- ^ Mike Gibbins, "Meet Yellowknife's Steve Norn: Canada's smartest person?". My Yellowknife Now, November 8, 2016.
- ^ "MLA Steve Norn charged with two counts of violating public health act". 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Adjudicator recommends Norn seat be declared vacant". 18 November 2021.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/norn-expelled-legislative-assembly-1.6259925[bare URL]
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/norn-s-seat-ordered-vacant-resignation-not-valid-says-legislature-speaker-1.6261830[bare URL]
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