N.W.T. premier's conflict inquiry cost $201K

Last year's inquiry into Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland's secret affair with a former legislature clerk cost taxpayers $201,500.

The costs for the inquiry headed by sole adjudicator Ted Hughes were tabled in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.

The inquiry investigated a complaint by six MLAs that Roland may have used his extramarital relationship with Patricia Russell, who was then the assembly's principal clerk of committees, to share legislature secrets in 2008.

Legal costs accounted for most of the inquiry's costs, totalling about $125,000, although the six MLAs who filed the complaint had no legal representation.

Roland's lawyer fees accounted for $24,000 of the costs.

Hughes concluded that Roland was in a conflict of interest for not immediately disclosing his relationship, instead keeping it secret for months.

He also said Roland's error was "one made in good faith," and he did not order any penalties against the premier as a result.

Roland, who was a married father of six, apologized to the legislative assembly after the adjudicator's ruling was released. He has since separated from his wife and lives with Russell.