Indian Affairs department risked compounding existing poverty and despair on native reserves by failing to account for how money is being spent. He also added, "the department is not taking adequate steps to ensure that allegations of wrongdoing, including complaints and disputes related to funding arrangements, are appropriately resolved." As far back as 1996 Desautels complained about "severe deficiencies in Ottawa’s system of monitoring funds spend on reserves for welfare, education, housing, and economic development." |
August 5/05 The lawyer/chief is supposedly on stress leave and his brother in law is acting chief. The Maliseet Nation at Tobiques deficit is in a very conservative estimate of $15 mil+ in the red also further spiralling us into co management with the DIAND before the last recalled election, countless failed businesses and we have also experienced three suicides from 05-06 with countless attempts and still no accountability or no Chief and council meetings - to make a long story short. Press Release! Tobique Casino: Private Piggy Bank for a Select Few Lawyer/Chief Stewart Paul, Councilor Gerald Bear, and Councilor Stone Bear have filed a statement of claim with the Court of Queen’s Bench alleging that “11 named individuals and others used threats and intimidation to take over the casino between June 7 - 20”. They further allege that funds were supposedly taken from the casino and misappropriated by the 11 individuals and others. In addition, the claim states that the funds supposedly taken from the casino have not been returned and accounted for by the group identified in the statement. Finally, the claim alleges that the individuals caused property damage to the casino’s video lottery terminals. A statement of defense addressing the false allegations made by the Chief and his two council members will be submitted to the court in the very near future. While the statement of defense will contain detailed information, I am compelled to respond to the media reports regarding the matter. First, it should be clarified that the “band” as represented by the Chief and Council has not agreed to take legal action seeking damages from the 11 individuals and others. The Chief and his two council members do not have authority to proceed with the action as defined within the Indian Act. The majority for Tobique First Nation government is 7 and as indicated in the initial application for an injunction against community members only three members signed affidavits. The majority of council members opposed the application for an injunction against concerned community members who supposedly “occupied” the casino on June7-20. Five of the council members signed a written document supporting our community members who initiated a transfer of ownership of the casino from the Chief and his two council members to a community-owned enterprise. Concerned employees of the casino have provided information and a review of financial information reveals that the casino was a private piggy bank for the Chief, few council members and senior managers of the band administration. Information reveals that the casino financed extravagant trips, new homes, automobiles, large payments to non- members, fines imposed by provincial courts, legal expenses for political supporters, and extreme home-makeovers” for the highly connected. Not surprisingly, this group wants to maintain control of the casino revenues. It should be emphasized that concerned community members were forced to take action on June 7th to protect our community resource (casino revenues) from continued abuse and questionable expenditure practices. They wanted to convey the message that the casino is not owned by a private club consisting of the Chief, senior management, and his two council members; it is a community-owned business that is supposed to benefit all community members. Furthermore, they were concerned that the casino managers refuse to be financially accountable; they were concerned that managers favor some community members over others; they were concerned that managers refuse to distribute a share of net profits to community members; and they were concerned about the misappropriation of approximately 45 million generated by the casino in the past three years. The Chief and managers of the casino have not produced a single audit of casino revenues and expenditures in the umpteen three years. Prior to the June 7th action taken by concerned members, we had no idea of the amount of revenues generated by the casino and how these revenues were expended. We now know that in the past three years the casino has generated gross revenues of 15 million per year for a grand total of 45 million. We are also able to confirm at this time that casino revenues have been subject to abuse and the casino undoubtedly serves as a personal piggy bank for a select few. It is also suggested in media reports that only 11 “dissidents” are unhappy with the lack of financial accountability regarding casino revenues. In fact, the majority of community members fully support any action that will eventually lead to a detailed financial accountability of casino revenues. During the period June 7- 20, a great deal of community members visited the casino and expressed their support to the new management committed to community ownership of the casino. Among the supporters were our Elders of the community who encouraged all concerned members to continue their quest for accountability, fairness, and equal distribution of net profits to all members. In essence, the total number of “dissidents” actually represented a majority of community members. This is the second “occupation” of the casino in the past two years, single parent mothers were also forced to take similar action before Easter of 2004 because managers of the casino refused to help the parents at that time. The single parent mothers agreed to leave the casino only after the Chief instructed the managers to distribute small amounts of funds to the “occupiers”. Accountability was also an issue with the single mother parents but the Chief, Director of Operations and Band Manager simply ignored the concerns of the group and continued their questionable spending habits following the first “occupation”. The demands of the majority have been and continue to be as follows: · A restructuring of the casino to reflect true community-ownership rather than ownership by a private club
I fully support the demands of the majority as outlined above and I will continue to support those who take action against an unfair system that refuses to be accountable to the people of Tobique First Nation. As member of the council, it is my responsibility to protect the interests of all community members and to provide a voice for those who have been abused by the system. |
| Only four usurped countries – Canada , Australia , New Zealand and the United States voted against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. More... |
| Recently plumbers working on the water line informed us that Tobique still uses ASBESTOS PIPES. If that is not enough, take a look at a 2002 PDF report HERE. |
| Ex chief Stewart C Paul wins Liberal candidacy Shaking hands with ex MP Andy Savoy who once lived less than 3Km from this unnaccounted casino. |
| Pictured at (R) are T J's uncle Liberal Candidate Lawyer/ ex Chief Stewart Paul, ex (L) MP Andy Savoy, ex (L) Prime Minister Paul Martin 2005 Liberal convention. |
| (TPM) Third Party Managers - Arbuthnot, MacNeil, Douglas, Dorey "This community is in the worst financial position that we have ever seen for a community in the last 25 years. The existence of a corporate culture of living above the resources available, lack of financial controls & oversight, criminal activities, non-compliance to funding agreement terms and conditions without recourse, poor business planning & management, no long-term community plan, no long-term financial plan and unmanageable debt financing regimes has effectively placed this community in a position of being unable to deliver essential programs and services due to its limited financial ability and resources." MORE... |
| Poor & unemployed community members wanna know ... (NOW WE KNOW!) Why did you recieve cheques from this alleged illegal casino T J Burke? "There is nothing that makes me prouder than being able to stand up for people who have been wronged. I consider it a social responsibility." T.J.Burke We have been wronged! The Liberals say the government is ignoring alleged illegal gambling at a casino in Tobique First Nation. More info... "Liberal Aboriginal Affairs critic T.J. Burke says it's obvious that the Tobique First Nation is operating a casino in defiance of provincial law." |
| On Wed., Jan. 4, 2006, of the "Victoria Star" which serves Grand Falls, Perth-Andover and Victoria County, Beaver Paul (Ex CEO TEDCO) stated "TEDCO has increased revenues by 300 % from $4 Million to $15 Million in three years. We have been successful that way, and also increasing employment," Paul stated. "We're making headway, we are employing more people we are increasing sales. To people who have negative feelings toward TEDCO we want to convert them to positive feelings over time." Tobique Signs Co-Management With... |
| Gomery Inquiry eh? A breeding ground for Liberal Politicians - Liberals Sen. Sandra Lovelace, Attorney General T J Burke, MP Candidate & ex Chief Stewart C Paul & former MP Andy Savoy have Tobique in common. One of the only places on earth with an unaccounted casino as many years as they were in power. "I believe that it's illuminated in neon lights– Lucky's Casino is the name" T J Burke, for over a decade. So why are we in Third Party for the third time with a skyrocketing deficit ratio & three suicides? And where did all of this money go intended for poor and social programs? We now have a few more questions ... |
| A Forensic Investigation has been requested for years. Now we know why it hasnt been called! For poor and social programs "Mr. Paul fired off a stern warning to Liberal MLA T.J. Burke, his own nephew, over comments Mr. Burke has made concerning the reserve and gaming activity going on there." MORE "The Liberals say the government is ignoring alleged illegal gambling at a casino in TFN" 2004 T.J. Burke also has another complaint with the way the government is dealing with the issue. He says Patrick Francis, the deputy minister of aboriginal affairs, is a former chief of the Tobique First Nation. That, says Burke, puts Francis in a conflict of interest when dealing with the casino file. MORE Tobique Chief denies allegations of misspending; DFO won't investigate 2001 If it's properly run and managed [it] can generate jobs and income and supplement and help with our backlog, our housing shortage, our social problems our economic problems. The way I look at it, it's a benefit to the reserve as a whole." MORE Well over 100 Million dollars in 6 years alone and we are still well over 15 Million in the RED. With a population of approximately 1900 (not 100) and at least 70% unemployed. MORE Elders close casino over allegations of band mismanagement 2000 Their protest began early Monday morning as more than 40 people stormed the band office, upset because the chief and councillors have recently decided to give themselves salaries of $1,000 a week. Meanwhile, elders on the reserve had just been told their monthly support cheques would soon be eliminated. MORE Edited Parliamentary Hansard 1999 Mr. Gilles Bernier (Tobique—Mactaquac, PC): Mr. Speaker, members of the Tobique First Nation are fed up. The department of Indian affairs transfers $13 million annually to the Tobique band council, yet the council has recently run up a $10 million deficit. MORE Current chief When New England lawmakers found out about the operation last week, after a New Brunswick newspaper broke the story later picked up by New England newspapers, they vowed to act quickly to put an end to the operation. MORE Ex chief 1997 Bernard was helping finance the election campaign MORE This is just the tip of the iceburg! |
| "lawyers have a duty of honesty and integrity." |
| "this is one of the most important reasons grassroots people are still living in poverty in Canada today. As community members, we all have the right to know what the leadership is doing with the funds that they receive." Patrick Brazeau |
| Halt more Aboriginal funding until accountability is in place: |
| TAXPAYERS! OVER $100 MIL in 5 years just here! |
| In general, First Nations with good government tended have more healthy economic development, the study found. But there are dysfunctional band councils on far too many reserves, the report said. The report also talked about the "unfair elections" & "veil of secrecy" that permeates the activities of many band councils. MORE! |
Well over $100 Million in five years here alone! chief -"casino invests up to $750K/yr in the community"? Sure don't look like it! MORE We deserve a HUGE explanation! MORE ... |
| BECAUSE OF OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE ... CANADA, TAXPAYERS & ABORIGINALS EVERYWHERE DESERVE A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION! |
| TOBIQUE PARTICIPATES IN TAX SYSYTEM MORE Commisioner David Paul |
| Casino! For POOR & Social Programs MORE |
| Ian Gray is partly responsible for this mess. REPORT He didn't even show up for Mondays meeting! MORE |
IAN GRAY was interviewd by a Selection Board composed of.
Bill Montour Director General, Atlantic Region IAND
Greg Gauld Director General, Comprehensive Claims IAND
Robert Atwin Chief, Kingsclear First Nation
Micheline Thibault Executive Resourcing Consultant PSC MORE
Bill Montour Director General, Atlantic Region IAND
Greg Gauld Director General, Comprehensive Claims IAND
Robert Atwin Chief, Kingsclear First Nation
Micheline Thibault Executive Resourcing Consultant PSC MORE
| 4 Liberal poiticians from here! Now we know why! |
