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The police investigation began last year when the OPP received complaints from four members of the OPP Association alleging fraudulent activity by some senior members, the affidavit says. The OPP referred the complaint to the RCMP.

“I have reasonable grounds to believe that the subjects of investigation, namely, Walsh, Christie, Bain, McKay, Kozak and Chantiam, have acted together to commit criminal offences of fraud and theft against the OPPA,” RCMP Sgt. Gordon Aristotle, an officer with an investigative background in financial crimes, wrote in an affidavit filed in court.

“I believe that the subjects of investigation have organized various schemes, some which include companies for which they hold hidden beneficial ownership, that have been setup in order to obtain exclusive rights for services required by the OPPA. These services pertain to but are not limited to the travel and investment needs of the OPPA. In addition, some of the services offered by these companies are being promoted to the OPP membership throughout the province.”

Last year, all employees of the Ontario Provincial Police Association were, without explanation, instructed to exclusively use a new travel service provider, First Response Travel Group, which was formed in June 2014.

The union’s chief administrative officer directed all employees to use the company for all travel needs, including arranging the association’s golf tournament, annual general meeting and spring board meeting. First Response was also marketed to its 6,000 uniformed members to use for personal travel.