Rytha Dykes, general manager at Misty Lake Lodge, said she checked with EMO and discovered the province had already paid MANFF for the Misty Lake’s invoices — the very ones which MANFF has been slow to settle.
Dykes said they are trying to focus on caring for evacuees despite the billing issues.
"I know every single guest here by their first name and probably know what their favourite colour is even. We have very personal relationships with our guests now," she said.
The province says $72 million has been advanced since the onset of the flood to MANFF in order to keep cash flowing to evacuees, but it doesn’t watch how the money is spent — that’s done in a federal audit, which hasn’t happened yet.
MANFF..........*gasp*
MANFF suing former employee for leaking documents - Manitoba - CBC News
MANFF suing former employee for leaking documents
Ted Ducharme released agency documents suggesting questionable charges
The Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters (MANFF) is suing one of its former employees for leaking documents that showed how the agency was spending federal money for 2011 flood evacuees.
Ted Ducharme provided CBC News with MANFF documents that showed questionable overtime charges and receipts for more than $1 million for late-night snacks for flood evacuees.
The organization is suing Ducharme for releasing confidential documents. In addition to seeking damages, it also wants the leaked documents to be sealed.
Ducharme said even though he's facing a lawsuit, he does not regret coming forward.
"The public has a right to know how their money is being spent, so I don't feel bad in the least," he told CBC News outside court following a hearing on Thursday.
MANFF argues the documents belong to the agency and Ducharme breached its trust and code of conduct by leaking them to the media.
The organization also says it wants to prevent any other documents Ducharme may have from also being released.
MANFF officials have declined to comment on the lawsuit while it's before the courts.
However, a lawyer for the organization was overheard saying to Ducharme outside the courthouse, "We're fine with you being a whistleblower. We just want you to blow your whistle, not ours."
MANFF was originally tasked with disbursing federal funding to help First Nations members who were forced from their homes by severe flooding in the spring of 2011.
Over two years later, many flood evacuees are still staying temporarily in hotels in communities like Winnipeg and Gimli.
This has been going on for years....