Audit of Innu economic group flags salaries, restaurant tabs, lotto tickets

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – An audit says two former executives of the Innu Development Limited Partnership in Labrador racked up “excessive” salaries on top of questionable claims for restaurant tabs, cigarettes, lotto tickets and massages.

The spending review by former provincial auditor general John Noseworthy was sent to the RCMP on his recommendation to assess possible criminal activity.

The audit, obtained by The Canadian Press, cites a lack of board oversight and controls at the partnership, which was formed to advance Innu economic interests in two Labrador communities.

The partnership’s board hired Noseworthy in October to specifically assess salary, bonuses, incentives and expenses for former chief executive officer Paul Rich and former chief financial officer Edgar Branton.

Noseworthy’s report says that for the fiscal years 2008 to 2012, Rich received almost $1.5 million in salary, bonuses and incentives.

It also says Branton over the same five years was paid more than $717,000 in total compensation.

The report says Rich and Branton were both fired in June 2012, just before community protests erupted over leaked internal documents on their pay scales.

Rich did not answer a request through Facebook for comment.

Branton said he has not seen a copy of the audit and declined comment.