Lawyer Investigating Possible PBCN Misspending

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at 15:08

Talks are underway between officials with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and some of its trustees over the emptying of a multi-million dollar trust account.

MBC news has learned that a Prince Albert-based lawyer is looking into the apparent spending of three-point-seven (3.7) million dollars over a four-month period.

According to a letter written from the lawyer to the chairman of the trustees, the funds were withdrawn from one of the band’s Treaty Land Entitlement trust accounts.

The letter says the withdrawals were made between December of last year to March of 2005.

The lawyer also says it is unclear to him whether the trustees actually approved the spending.

He goes on to say that if the trustees didn’t approve the withdrawals it might be a good idea to contact the appropriate authorities.

Trustees chairman Tom Bird is refusing to provide details about what he’s uncovered, but does say the matter is being taken up with chief and counsel.