Buzzapp Master 
Article content
The employee was interviewed on Oct. 3, 2024 and told investigators they worked with the landlord part-time, but had not disclosed that relationship with anyone at the city.
Article content
That constituted a breach of the city’s code of conduct, according to the report.
Article content
Investigators obtained banking records and data contained on the former employee’s personal devices.
Article content
They found “several messages between Employee A and the landlord that would indicate that these
payments were made by the landlord with the intention to utilize Employee A’s role at the city to provide a financial benefit to the landlord.”
Article content
One message from the landlord to the then-employee stated: “Is there any way you can put a couple in there and get me a higher rent, like $2,300 or what can we do on this thing? It’s a one-bedroom apartment, if you get me the rent, of course the bonus will be much larger.”
Article content
Article content
Investigators observed “multiple factors” that indicated the payments “are consistent with a kickback scheme designed to provide a benefit to both the landlord and Employee A.”
Article content
The employee was fired between October and December 2024.
Article content
A second former city employee — referred to as Employee B in the report — is a family member of the accused employee who had knowledge of the alleged kickback scheme and did not disclose that information to the city. That was considered a breach of the city’s code of conduct.
Article content
Investigators also observed “that Employee B was directly involved with collecting payment from the landlord to Employee A.”
Article content
The second employee resigned, Gougeon told the committee.
Article content
City management agreed with a staff recommendation to halt all business relationships with the landlord and said in December “a plan is underway to terminate all existing business relationships with the landlord as it relates to housing allowance programs.”
Article content
Article content
Investigators identified 31 affected tenants who had a rental relationship with the landlord, Gougeon told the committee in December.
Article content
Staff were creating “individualized transition plans” to find alternate accommodations for the affected tenants who were still residing in units owned by the landlord.
Article content
The report cites “multiple instances” where the housing case worker assisted clients in entering into leases on units that “significantly exceeded the market value.”
Article content
In one example, a client in need of housing signed a lease for a three-bedroom unit in the Ledbury/Heron Gate neighbourhood for $4,050, which is 63 per cent above the average rent of $2,491.
Article content
In another example cited in the report, a client signed a lease for the same $4,050 rent in the Pineview area, which is 46 per cent above the average of $2,775.
Article content
The report states there is a possibility that “such significant increases in rental amounts may have resulted in inflationary rental prices in these areas.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings