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Thursday, January 11, 2018
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Susan Boyer sentenced to 28 months Staff
It’s expected a healing lodge is the next stop for ex-Canada Post employee Susan Boyer, sentenced to 28 months for her role in defrauding her employer of more than $325,000 over a five-year period.
North Battleford skip Robyn Silvernagle makes a line call to her teammates during the Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts final Sunday against Sherry Anderson in Melfort. For more on Silvernagle’s second place finish at the event, please see Page 14. Photo courtesy of Devin Tasa
Pot tax should come to municipalities: Bater
Sports Combines on a roll Page 15
By John Cairns and Josh Greschner
News
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Leadership countdown Page 6
Op-Ed
Carbon game Page 4
Both North Battleford and Battleford have big decisions to make soon on retailing cannabis in the community. Monday night, North Battleford city council received correspondence from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Commission on the retailing and wholesaling of canna-
bis. The correspondence stated that the city is eligible for two cannabis retail outlets, based on population. The town of Battleford is eligible for one cannabis retail outlet. However, eligible communities have the choice to opt out of the initial allocation of retail permits if they choose. Community leaders, including those on First Nations, have until Feb. 28 to pass a resolution
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to opt out, and send a letter to SLGA to that effect. Saskatchewan is the last province in the country to come up with a framework for licensing retail cannabis in advance of the federal government’s legalization of marijuana coming this summer. The province plans to initially issue 60 retail permits in up to 40 eligible communities with populations of 2,500 or more. Continued on Page 3
Boyer was sentenced in North Battleford provincial court Monday morning by Judge David Kaiser. Boyer had pled guilty back in October to one count against her of intent to defraud Canada Post of cash money exceeding $5,000, by concealing funds obtained by Canada Post. During sentencing Monday, a request was made for Boyer to serve her sentence at the Okimow Ohci Healing Lodge near Maple Creek. The judge made no order on that request, however; it will be up to the federal Corrections system to determine if the healing lodge is the venue where Boyer will serve her sentence. A restitution order was also imposed for the full amount of $325,597. Boyer has already made restitution in the amount of $130,000. A victims of crime surcharge of $200 has also been ordered; there is no probation ordered. According to the submission of facts on sentencing made to the court,
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Boyer used an “elaborate scheme” to conceal frauds occurring between January 2011 and November 2015. Twenty-eight separate transactions were identified in which Boyer defrauded Canada Post of more than $325,000. There were six instances of fraud in 2011 amounting to $68,567, eight instances in 2012 amounting to $73,603, five instances in 2013 amounting to $68,750, six instances in 2014 amounting to $69,323 and three instances in 2015 amounting to $45,355 for a total sum of $325,597. According to the submission, the basic method Boyer used to defraud Canada Post involved payments made by local businesses that mailed out large volume mailings to their customers. These mailings were conducted at the North Battleford Post Office. Boyer’s role at the post office was overseeing the financial aspects of the post office and preparation of the post office bank deposits. Continued on Page 3
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