PBCN Chief Breaks Silence About TLE Money

PBCN Chief Breaks Silence About TLE Money

Monday, June 06, 2005 at 13:27

 

 

The chief of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is trying to clear the air about millions of dollars in missing Treaty Land Entitlement money.

 

Ron Michel says while it’s true that $3.7 million was withdrawn from a TLE trust account from December to March, almost $2 million was earmarked for previously-approved band projects.

 

He says the remaining $1.8 million in withdrawals is currently the subject of an external audit — the results of which should be known by August.

 

Michel says it’s not clear who ultimately approved that spending, but he says it appears it was used to cover administration costs, salaries, travel and emergencies.

 

He also acknowledges receiving some of the money in question in the form of salary and benefits, but says it was someone else that made the decision to take the money from the TLE account.

 

Michel admits the account in question is not intended for that purpose, but he also says band officials are often pressured to use the money for emergencies — especially since the band is currently under third party management.

 

He says he and five other individuals have signing authority for the TLE account, but the trustees have to approve all expenditures.

 

Michel says the RCMP won’t be asked to investigate unless the results of the audit indicate that should happen.

 

He says layoff notices are being issed to staff at the band’s TLE administration office because there’s no more money to administer.

 

Michel says band councillors and trustees are in agreement that the money has to be restored to the account.

 

Including the recent withdrawals, Michel says the band now has $6 million left of the $55 million in TLE funds it was originally awarded from the government.