Police investigating former union leader

KITCHENER — The former head of the union that represents the City of Kitchener’s inside workers has abruptly left her job, as police investigate tens of thousands of dollars in unusual spending on her union credit card.

Johanna Ellis, who served as president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 791 from 2005 until she left the post suddenly in December 2016, has now also quit her job as an administrative coordinator in the city’s program and resource services branch.

Her departure comes after questions were raised about allegedly improper spending on a union-issued American Express card, and external auditors were brought in. The union passed the auditors’ findings onto Waterloo Regional Police, and the service’s fraud branch is investigating.

No charges have been laid in the ongoing case.

“We’ve conducted a forensic audit, looking into expenditures, and we’ve handed that over to the police. I can’t say much else, because there is an ongoing investigation,” said Justin Harris, who replaced Ellis as president of the union.

“It’s with the police now. We’re determining where we go from there.”

Ellis, who ran unsuccessfully for the NDP nomination in Kitchener-Conestoga during the 2007 provincial election, could not be reached for comment. She’s reportedly relocating out of the province, after leaving a city job she’s held for more than two decades on short notice.

CUPE Local 791 represents more than 370 inside workers who do office, clerical and technical jobs with the City of Kitchener, and another 180 employees in the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network.

In her role with the city, Ellis had a range of responsibilities including handling applications for student summer jobs and accessibility grants for residents with special needs, but did not handle money.

The union executive called in auditors after the spending irregularities were found last December, but questions around expenses and missing receipts have dated back years, according to union members.

At a meeting in June, union members were shown the auditor’s findings — highlighting plane tickets, clothes, liquor store purchases and personal insurance payments that had

been flagged.

Harris declined to confirm the amount of money believed to be involved.

“We sent it out for an external audit, once we determined there may have been some issues,” Harris said. “But I’m not going to give out figures, because it’s before the police right now.”

He stressed the allegations are still just allegations and he was hesitant to say much else. “It’s obviously a very large concern to our executive, and our members,” he said.

While talk about the audit may have been buzzing among union members for a while, the police investigation has not formally involved the City of Kitchener.

“The city has not been made aware of this investigation by the police service and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment,” city spokesperson Victoria Raab said. “This is a matter between CUPE 791 and the police.”