An investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct between two male North Slave Correctional Complex employees and a former inmate remains open, says the territorial government.
In a series of interviews with News/North last month, Kelly Canadian, an openly gay 26-year-old man, recounted dozens of alleged sexual encounters he says occurred both inside and outside of the Yellowknife jail from 2016 to 2018.
Canadian alleges the first of two relationships began with a correctional complex employee asking him to perform sexual acts while the two were alone and unsupervised in the staff member's office. Canadian claims a second employee, who he also engaged in sexual acts with, sent him upwards of $2,000 in Interact e-transfers.
Daniel Campbell/NNSL photo
Two North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC) employees remain suspended with pay pending the outcome of investigations into allegations the staff engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a former male inmate over a two-year span.
A spokesperson for the GNWT justice department initially refused to confirm whether or not the employees accused in the allegations had been suspended – an assertion made by Canadian – characterizing the issue as “human resources matter.”
But later, spokesperson Sue Glowach confirmed two “corrections officers,” had in fact been suspended with pay – as per policy – pending the outcome of “investigations.”
Under the NWT's Public Service Act, jail employees can be suspended for 30 days if a deputy head believes an employee is guilty of misconduct or incompetence. An employee's pay can also be reduced, or they can be demoted.
If Justice Minister Louis Sebert “considers it desirable to investigate the allegations,” he may suspend the employee and investigate the allegation.
Employees can be suspended for a maximum of 60 days. If the minister is satisfied the employee is guilty of misconduct or incompetence once the investigation is complete, he can fire or demote the staff member, suspend the employee for a period of 30 days or “take such other action as the minister considers appropriate,” according to the Act.
If Sebert finds the opposite to be true, he may terminate the suspensions and reinstate the employees.
“As this is an ongoing personnel issue, the minister will not be providing comment at this time,” wrote Glowach in an email to Yellowknifer.
Asked what the ongoing investigations will entail, Glowach stated, “each investigation is very thorough and specific to the situation that caused the investigation.”
Glowach said investigations can take "anywhere from one to 30 days," but probes can be extended, if required, to a maximum of 60 days.
Glowach wouldn't say exactly when the investigations were launched.
Canadian has retained Steven Cooper, an Alberta-based civil lawyer, who is in the process of filing a statement of claim against the territorial government. He plans to sue the GNWT as operators of the jail for being “vicariously liable for the harms suffered” by Canadian.
Cooper told News/North he expects to file the statement of claim by the end of the month.