Former Métis Nation official sentenced for fraud
CBC News
Posted: Feb 14, 2012 7:42 PM CST
Last Updated: Feb 14, 2012 7:40 PM CST
The former chair of the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan has been sentenced to a year in jail for defrauding the organization.
Albert Joseph Delaire was sentenced at the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatoon on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to committing six counts of fraud and forgery between 2001 and 2004.
At the time, Delaire was the minister of health for the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and chair of the board overseeing the addictions council.
His crimes include using government-owned vehicles for personal travel, forging invoices and service contracts and authorizing payments to himself for work that was never done.
The Crown says Delaire stole $400,000 from the organization, but the defense says it was between $40,000 and $50,000.
Because of the discrepancy, Justice Gerry Allbright did not order Delaire to pay any of the money back.
He also said Delaire's medical problems and his willingness to take responsibility for his actions affected the sentence.
Calling the offences a "significant abuse of trust," Allbright told court he would normally have sentenced Delaire to two years in jail, but shortened that to one year because of the man's diabetes and heart problems.
Another man was sentenced in November for similar offences. Henry Cummings was given a one-year conditional sentence to be served at home. He had been a board secretary overseeing the addictions council.
The addictions council is owned by the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. It operates alcohol and drug programs in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.
Share Tools
Latest Saskatchewan News Headlines
- CP Rail union, Tories battle over collective bargaining
- The federal Conservatives defended their plan to force striking Canadian Pacific Railway employees back to work as a way to keep the economy on track, while the union representing 4,800 workers said their collective bargaining rights are under attack. more »
- Regina Masons won't make way for library expansion
- Regina's Freemasons say they won't sell their temple to the Regina Public Library, which has wanted to expand its downtown location. more »
- Saskatoon homicide victim may have been Good Samaritan
- A man killed in Saskatoon earlier this month may have been a Good Samaritan who tried to stop an assault, police say. more »
- Man accused of killing toddler on trial in Regina
- A judge in Regina has begun hearing evidence in the trial of Jason Will, a man accused of killing his fiancee's 18-month-old son almost three years ago. more »
Top News Headlines
- 'Engine shutdown' forced Air Canada jet to land
- A Japan-bound Air Canada Boeing 777 jet had to make an emergency landing at Toronto's Pearson airport on Monday, after one of its engines failed. more »
- CP Rail union, Tories battle over collective bargaining
- The federal Conservatives defended their plan to force striking Canadian Pacific Railway employees back to work as a way to keep the economy on track, while the union representing 4,800 workers said their collective bargaining rights are under attack. more »
- Bullyproof: One classroom confession
- Chadia became physically scarred after incessant teasing. Her story is one of 150 gathered in a video confessional booth at a Quebec school. more »
- Missing Winnipeg kids found in Mexico are back with mom
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years are back home, reunited with their mother, after they were located in Mexico late last week. more »
- Moose wander into Regina, Saskatoon
- Woman, 26, killed in rollover near Maymont, Sask.
- Tories line up to argue CP Railway strike hurting economy
- Snow dumped on southwest
- Saskatoon sex assault suspect facing new charge
- Regina to take direct control of Evraz Place
- U of S medical programs score provisional accreditation
- Saskatoon homicide victim may have been Good Samaritan
- New pub aims to keep gang members away
Play On! Canada's largest street hockey tournament!
