Security worker charged with fraud: Colleen McDougall allegedly forged the signatures of top border security experts for profit
The RCMP has laid 11 fraud- and theft-related charges against a woman who worked as administrative assistant to the federal government's top border security experts, CanWest News Service has learned. According to the charges, Colleen McDougall, 44, repeatedly forged the signatures of members of the Canada-U.S. Border Task Force, which is responsible for negotiating the 30-point Smart Border agreement with Washington's department of homeland security. The border security task force is housed in Ottawa's Privy Council Office, the most senior branch of the public service. McDougall is alleged to have used the forgeries to obtain American Express travellers cheques and travel advances. The 11 charges include five counts of forgery, four counts of uttering forged documents, one count of theft over $5,000 and one count of fraud over $5,000. In total, the Privy Council Office estimates the department lost $19,585 during the roughly one year McDougall was employed there. She was dismissed in March this year after information about the case was referred to the RCMP. The charges name five government officials in the Border Task Force whose signatures had allegedly been forged, including Robert Fonberg, the head of the task force. Fonberg, the Privy Council Office's deputy secretary to cabinet, works with outgoing deputy prime minister John Manley on border security issues and has been closely involved in negotiations with the U.S. government regarding changes to the Canada-U.S. border in light of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In addition to border security, he is also responsible for managing cabinet papers, economic and regional development policy, social development policy, and government appointments and regulations. Four other members of the Border Task Force also had their names forged, including assistant deputy minister Phil Ventura, the task force's director of operations Graham Flack, policy advisor Sara Wiebe and Ben Rowswell. NDP MP Pat Martin said the charges could hinder the office's reputation among its American counterparts. The Winnipeg MP, who is a member of the Commons government operations committee, said the charges appear to be "an alarming breach of security at the highest levels." Martin said it is only good fortune that the allegations relate to theft for personal gain as opposed to a more serious problem. "What if it was a breach of national security that could be happening just as easily? They're trying to convince our neighbours that Canada is competent and can be trusted. It's an embarrassing series of events. Who's minding the store when the high-priced help is off negotiating with the Americans?" Canadian Alliance MP Jason Kenny described the charges as "troubling" and "disturbing" and called on the Privy Council Office to review its security procedures in light of the charges.
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