An MLA is calling for a formal probe into allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct between two North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC) employees and a former inmate.
“The allegations are serious,” stated Julie Green, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, in an email earlier this week.
“I expect the minister of Justice (Louis Sebert) to conduct an investigation and report his findings in the Assembly as soon as possible,” stated Green.
Kelly Canadian, a 26-year-old openly gay man, detailed dozens of alleged sexual encounters between himself and two male staff members, which he says occurred over a two-year span, in a series of interviews with News/North last month.
Canadian claims the first of two relationships began at the Yellowknife jail in September 2016, when an employee asked him to perform oral sex when the two were alone and unsupervised in the staff member’s office.
Canadian alleges the incident was the first of 40 encounters between himself and the man from 2016 to 2018 -- half of which, he says, occurred outside of the jail when he was no longer in custody.
Canadian says the man sent him around $2,000 through Interact e-transfers.
Canadian claims a relationship began with a second staff member, who he says sent him explicit photos via a gay dating app, also in 2016. The two employees, Canadian says, were suspended after he reported the pair in late October. He told News/North the first relationship left him “angry and confused.”
In an email dated Oct. 26, obtained by News/North, Canadian speaks out about the allegations to two high ranking employees at the jail. Canadian said the email resulted in the first employee to be suspended.
In the email, Canadian writes that one of the accused staff members told him, "do you think you're the first one?"
"It makes me wonder if there are other victims as well," a worried Canadian wrote in the email.
"I broke my silence earlier this year yet due to the intimidation I received from relatives and friends of (the accused), I withdrew the allegations. I'm determined to deal with this now. I want my story to be heard," wrote Canadian.
"I pray this storm ends soon."
Sue Glowach, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, initially refused to confirm or deny whether or not the employees had been suspended, calling the issue a "human resources" matter. But in an email earlier this week, Glowach confirmed Corrections officers had been suspended, with pay as per policy.
While Glowach stated "correctional officers" are suspended, Yellowknifer has learned that the allegations leveled by Canadian are aimed at one Corrections officer and another employee who may work in a different department. Due to the early legal action against the GNWT, Yellowknifer won't be identifying the other employee's status at the jail.
She wouldn't put a number of how many had been suspended, and stated she couldn't speak further about the staff members in question.
Canadian has retained an Alberta-based civil lawyer, who tells News/North he plans to sue the Government of the Northwest Territories, as operators of NSCC, for being “vicariously liable for the harms suffered” by Canadian.
Kelly Canadian, 26, has retained Alberta-based lawyer Steven Cooper who is preparing a lawsuit against the GNWT, seeking damages for the "harm" caused to his client while allegedly engaging in sexual relationships with staff members at the North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC).
Canadian was awarded $5,000 in an out-of-court settlement last November after he complained to the NWT Human Rights Commission that jail guards had hurled homophobic remarks at him while he was incarcerated.
Green stated she’ll reserve further comment on the allegations as the matter is the subject of pending legal action.
Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart also stated in an email that he will not comment as the case is before the courts, but said he'll follow the matter closely and will comment when appropriate.
Minister of Justice Louis Sebert had not responded to a request for comment by deadline.