Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Friday, February 23, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The Francophone school board wants to know how it can get back $62,000 stolen between 2000 and 2002.

In 2005, Marcel Blanchet was convicted of theft over $5,000 for writing a series of fraudulent cheques to himself during a two year period. Supreme Court Justice Rene Foisy ordered Blanchet to repay $10,000 to the Commission Scolaire Francophone.

The final payment was made in January.

Foisy also sentenced Blanchet to 18 months house arrest on his farm in Quebec and ruled the former board treasurer was liable for the remaining $62,000.

Board director general Gerald Lavigne told trustees Monday that he is working with the territorial justice department to find a way to recover the remaining money.

Lavigne said the theft has left the board with a deficit for the past two years.

He also told trustees that that the actual amount stolen was probably closer to $115,000, but it was only able to prove in court that $72,000 was stolen.

Andre Legare, board chairperson, said that he's not ready to let the last payment be the final word on what Blanchet has done to the school board.

Legare said that the students suffered from what happened.

Lavigne said that Blanchet took advantage of having sole responsibility of the money after the death of the board's director general Terry Bradley, in the fall of 2001.

The school board doesn't know what avenues they will pursue, taking into account the possible cost of legal actions.