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Former fire-office staff could face criminal action

By: Larry Kusch

Posted: 05/19/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Jennifer Howard

Former senior staff with the Office of the Fire Commissioner could face criminal charges over allegedly doctored expense accounts, although a decision won't be made until the government receives a report from the province's auditor general.

"The information that I've received is that criminal charges are still a distinct possibility in this situation," Jennifer Howard, the minister responsible for the OFC, said on Friday.

Howard made the comment to a legislative committee reviewing spending estimates for the Family Services and Labour Department, which she heads.

In response to questions from Conservative critic Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods), Howard said it appears proper financial controls are now in place at the OFC.

For some time, her department was making biweekly progress reports to the provincial comptroller in its efforts to right the office's financial accounting.

A further review of the OFC's books will be made this summer "to make sure they're still on track," Howard said.

Last August, the government sacked three OFC staffers, including fire commissioner Christopher Jones and deputy commissioner Justin Panagapko, following a provincial probe into alleged financial irregularities. A fourth employee took early retirement.

Howard said Friday it would not be her decision to recommend criminal charges or to call in the RCMP to investigate the matter. That would likely fall to the Manitoba Civil Service Commission and the provincial labour relations secretariat.

And no decision would be made on whether to call in police, she said, until auditor general Carol Bellringer completes her forensic audit of the OFC. Bellringer's report is expected this fall, Howard said.

Former finance minister Rosann Wowchuk requested the audit at the time of the dismissals.

Meanwhile, Howard said there is also the possibility the province could take civil action against the former OFC staff members. But that decision would also depend on the results of the audit.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner investigates the cause of fires, co-ordinates rescue missions when people get lost in a forest or are stranded by floods, inspects elevators and boilers, issues building and occupancy permits and oversees training for firefighters and paramedics, among other duties.

Howard commended new fire commissioner David Schafer and his staff for their efforts in instituting "appropriate" financial controls at the OFC.

"It's been very challenging, very difficult for that office, very difficult on the staff of the office and entirely regrettable," she said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 19, 2012 A12

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