Nova Scotia

CNIB lottery kiosk missing money should have been caught sooner: lawyer

A lawyer representing two former Canadian National Institute for the Blind lottery kiosk operators is questioning how the charity lost $100,000 without catching it sooner.

'That's the million-dollar question,' says Toronto lawyer Stephen Ellis

The CNIB — an organization that helps visually impaired Canadians — operates lottery booths in stores across Atlantic Canada under a contract with the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, selling ALC products. (iStock)

A lawyer representing two former Canadian National Institute for the Blind lottery kiosk operators is questioning how the charity lost $100,000 without catching it sooner.

CNIB launched legal action against four former operators, saying they are responsible for the booths and the missing money

But Toronto lawyer Stephen Ellis says the large missing sums should have been noticed during regular audits.

"That's the million-dollar question. How could this money be missing if apparently management at the CNIB had been on the job and ensuring that, from month to month, that the booths for each of the kiosks were operating and operating well," he says.
 
Ellis says the charity's decision to reach an agreement with one of the operators in Truro calls into question whether or not they felt he was responsible for the shortfall.

He says there was a pattern of behaviour in how all of the accused were dealt with.

He's hoping this week's Truro settlement will pave the way for similar agreements with the other operators, one of whom is his mother.