Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 5, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press monday july 5, 2004 Canada / world a7 paper Trail suggests convicted paedophile gets Church choir Job group of parishioners at St. Johns by Don Butler who formed what is known As a Cir bureaucrat got $70m Cle of support and accountability. Ottawa a 59-year-old convict dozens of similar circles have since probe into missing military funds reveals payments to Champagne by Andrew Mcintosh o Ottawa ? investigators probing How $146 million was siphoned out of Canadas military Over the past decade using phoney invoices have obtained material showing millions of dollars in payments to a former key Mil itary bureaucrat according to Docu ments and sources familiar with an ongoing ramp probe. In mid March Federal auditors and police investigators were Given boxes of invoices and cancelled cheques detailing payments to Paul Champagne a former National defence contracts manager. The payments came from rec systems inc., a Small High tech firm owned by Ottawa businessman Michael roots. The payments to Champagne who was fired by National defence officials in sep tember 2003 for serious Billing irregularities totalled almost $70 million according to a lawyer with knowledge of the invoicing probe and Allan Obrien an Ottawa lawyer representing rec sys tems. A copy of a Cheque cashed by Cham pagne shows rec paid the Public servant $95,524.79 on june 25 2001, purportedly for Champagne consulting on a Cana Dian military com was fired by Puter subcontract. National that Deal alone net defence Ted the cherubic bureaucrat almost officials in twice his annual september $58,000 salary. 2003 for Why Champagne pocketed $95,524.79 serious remains unclear. Billing bureaucrats Are prohibited from accept irregularities ing Money from government contractors. Champagne has publicly denied wrong doing. The former military bureaucrat did not return repeated phone Calls seeking com ment for this Story including questions about the $95,524 payment others now being scrutinized by Federal authorities and his lifestyle. Additional requests for comment which were delivered verbally and in writing to Sally Heather Burks his Ottawa lawyer also went unanswered. During the period under investigation Champagne amassed More than $20 Mil lion Worth of investments and residential real estate in Canada Florida and the Caribbean including a $2-million Beach front mansion in the turks and Raicos islands. His Home in Ottawa now Worth More than $1.4 million is in an exclusive gated Community and has Tennis courts a gym and a Pool. His third three car garage Home in Hudson fla., sits on a Lush Golf course development and has a Pool. Lastly he made investments in Ottawa Region High technology Start up firms. In a March 4, 2004, filing with the . Securities and Exchange commission Champagne disclosed he owns 3,463,625 shares in a Nash a listed company called work Stream inc., an 11.9 per cent stake Worth $8.7 million us at fridays closing prices. Champagne insists he became a millionaire thanks to sound investments and Luck at the gambling tables in Las vegas. ? National posted paedophile has been cleared to resume his duties As assistant to the organist and choir director at an anglican Church in Ottawa. John Gallienne will resume his duties at St. John the evangelist anglican Church after a decision made last week by Peter coffin Ottawa a anglican Bishop. Gallienne a future at the Church had been in question since May when the Kingston whig Standard published a 5,000-word Story on his role at the Church. The Story pointed out that his involvement violated a Church ban imposed after Gallienne pleaded guilty in 1990 to sexually abusing 13 Young boys while he was choirmaster and organist at St. Georges anglican Cathedral in Kingston ont. The lifetime ban which barred Gallienne from holding a leadership position or being involved in a music program in any Kingston area anglican Church was imposed in 1994 when he was released after serving four years in prison. The Ottawa anglican diocese adopted the same ban after Gallienne and his wife relocated Here. Soon after arriving in Ottawa Gallienne became involved with a formed in cities across Canada. In them volunteers enter into written agreements with High risk sex offenders providing daily con tact and support. In return offend ers pledge to honour conditions imposed on them by the courts and steer Clear of High risk behaviour. A study by the correctional ser vice of Canada suggests the circles Are effective in reducing the risk of further offences. In a study group of 30 sex offenders who belong to Cir cles Only three have committed More crimes. Members of Gallienne a support group grew to Trust him and he gradually assumed unpaid duties at the Church playing the Organ and helping conduct an adult choir. Coffin was prompted to review whether Gallienne a role at St. Johns was appropriate after the whig Standard Story was published. Yesterday Pat Johnston the Bishop a executive assistant said he has written a letter giving Gallienne permission for limited musical leadership at St. Johns. There Are a number of conditions attached to the permission John Ston said. ? can West news service plus0% Purchase financing up to 60 months on virtually All 2004 models plus every Call wins rings in and win is Back and bigger than Ever. Get a guaranteed minimum $1,000 off. 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