No “criminal actions” by QEC employees: RCMP

The RCMP have found no criminal actions by Qulliq Energy Corp. employees alleged to have used staff and materials for landscaping at a private dwelling.

“No charges are forthcoming in this investigation,” said a July 11 RCMP news release.

The news release said members of the V Division federal enforcement unit learned July 4 of allegations against two QEC employees that included theft, fraud, and “misappropriate [sic] use of resources.”

The allegations stemmed from questions posed to Lorne Kusugak, Nunavut’s energy minister, by Fred Schell, the MLA for Cape Dorset, June 7 in the Nunavut legislature.

In his question, Schell alleged that this past May 19 and May 20, power corporation staff brought 16 utility poles to the house for use in landscaping and creation of a retaining wall.

To support his claims, Schell tabled print-outs of grainy digital photos that showed QEC workers dropping the poles into place using a corporation cherry-picker truck.

“These allegations were investigated by members of the V Division Federal Enforcement Unit situated in Iqaluit, along with other outlying RCMP detachments in Nunavut,” said the news release. “The RCMP have completed their investigation, and have found nothing criminal in the actions of either of the QEC employees. No charges are forthcoming in this investigation.”

Peter Mackey, the president of QEC, responded June 30 in a written statement, to allegations that he used corporation staff and property to do work on a house in Iqaluit for which he is alleged to be a part-owner.

Mackey said he doesn’t live in the house in question and that he gained no benefit from the activities shown in the pictures.

“Firstly, I can confirm that the residence in the photograph is not my personal residence but is in fact a dwelling owned and occupied by a family unrelated to me,” Mackey said.

“Secondly, allegations that suggest the use of corporate resources for personal benefit are unfounded and incorrect,” he said.