Independent MLA Andrew Younger is in a dispute with his former riding association about outstanding legal fees.

The bills date back to 2015 when Younger, the victim of an alleged assault, was called as a witness to testify at Tara Gault's trial.

The former Liberal cabinet minister exercised his parliamentary privilege to not appear and, as a result, the case against the former Liberal Party staffer was thrown out.

Not long after, Premier Stephen McNeil fired Younger as environment minister and kicked him out of caucus for providing misleading information about the circumstances of using privilege.

Letters show dispute

Letters obtained by CBC News show that while the legal matter might be concluded, the question of who pays Younger's bills remains up for debate, at least by Younger.

In a January letter to then-Dartmouth East Liberal Association president Ron Dauphinee, Younger writes that he received advanced approval in 2015 from officers of the association to be reimbursed for expenses up to $5,000 and that it was also supported by the association's then-vice-president and treasurer, Ted Fraser. (Fraser has also served as Younger's official agent.)

In the letter, Younger writes he didn't think he needed a lawyer and it was only after the recommendation of the premier's office that he agreed "in order to be a team player and follow the direction and wishes expressed to me."

Premier Stephen McNeil disputes Andrew Younger's assertion that the premier's office told Younger to get legal advice. (CBC)

But Premier Stephen McNeil says there was never any such direction.

"I at no time instructed Andrew Younger to get legal advice [and] to my knowledge nor did anyone else," McNeil said Wednesday at Province House.

"If he asked us a legal question we would have said, 'We're not able to answer that. You need to get someone who has the ability to answer that from a legal point of view.'"

Law firm note says bills can't be paid

Even if Younger feels promises were made, it appears they were not permitted.

In a document from Halifax-based law firm McInnes Cooper obtained by CBC News, it says expenses can only be authorized for activities "that are in furtherance of the objectives" of the Dartmouth East Liberal Association and Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

"Paying personal legal fees for an individual who is not even a member of the caucus cannot, on any reasonable interpretation, be viewed as expenditure in furtherance of those objectives," says the document.

At Province House on Wednesday, Younger said he only wrote the letters because he wasn't getting answers about the expenses.

He wants to be reimbursed for $1,956.73 he already paid to the law firm Boyne Clarke, while about another $2,400 remains outstanding to Boyne Clarke and a second firm, Burchells, according to a letter from February.

Younger says the question of reimbursement is still being discussed.

Some bills paid?

Later in the day, Younger's constituency assistant said in an email that Younger had learned a portion of the bills had been paid, although she couldn't say how much or by whom. One source that can be ruled out is the riding association.

"All the aspects of the issue were reviewed and that led us to a decision earlier this year that no funds were to be paid," said Tracey Preeper, president of the Dartmouth East Liberal Association.

Threat of legal action

In the February letter, Younger also says he is beginning to be charged interest and asks that the bills be paid as soon as possible, suggesting possible consequences if they aren't.

"Ultimately both would go to collections and/or small claims court if not paid," he writes.

Asked whether he was still considering legal action, Younger was non-committal.

"We'll see where it goes," he said.