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OTTAWA – A new report says the head of a Crown corporation that oversees a major trade link between Canada and the United States misused taxpayers’ money by awarding two overly generous severance packages.

An investigation by the office of Public Service Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion found Blue Water Bridge Canada paid a total of $650,000 in severance to two of its workers, who also happened to be married to each other.

Blue Water Bridge Canada is responsible for the construction and operation of two bridges between Sarnia, Ont., and Port Huron, Mich.

The report says the first severance package of $366,000 went to the Crown corporation’s human-resources manager, who was fired after a founded harassment complaint.

The second severance payment of $292,000 went to another manager, who was married to the human-resources manager.

But Dion’s office says Charles Chrapko, who was president and chief executive officer at the time, did not commit a gross mismanagement under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

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