Federal government consultant charged for $250,000 timesheet fraud

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has charged a federal government consultant for fraudulently overbilling the federal government for an amount totaling about $250,000.

RCMP's Federal Policing's Sensitive and International Investigations Unit (SII) charged Clara Elaine Visser, aged 68, with one count of fraud over $5000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code.

The case was referred to the RCMP by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

"This investigation is a great example of collaboration between the RCMP and PSPC,” said Supt. Jeremie Landry, officer in charge, Sensitive and International Investigations Unit, RCMP Central Region. “It demonstrates that we are committed to keeping our nation safe, by protecting the integrity of the federal government and preventing the abuse of tax payers' dollars."

PSPC investigation into contractor

In the summer of 2021, PSPC launched an investigation into Visser’s activities.  The federal consultant undertook contract work with eight separate federal departments and Crown corporations. 

PSPC found evidence indicating that Visser had submitted fraudulent timesheets that resulted in overbilling by an estimated $250,000 between Jan. 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

PSPC then referred the case to the RCMP for a possible criminal investigation.

In its investigation, the RCMP SII obtained statements from prime contractors while examining timesheets to confirm that the consultant had overbilled the government of Canada on separate contracts.

"The government of Canada is committed to taking action against improper, unethical and illegal business practices. We hold individuals and companies accountable for their misconduct while protecting federal expenditures,” said Catherine Poulin, assistant deputy minister, Department of Oversight Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada. “Public Services and Procurement Canada has safeguards in place to detect wrongdoing and protect the integrity of the federal procurement system. We thank the RCMP for their thorough investigation."

Visser will appear in court in September.

Previously, Saskatchewan lost thousands of dollars to a number of employee fraud and theft incidents that were reported earlier this year. 

In 2023, Toronto’s Fraud and Waste Hotline received 1,054 complaints made up of roughly 1,450 allegations. That number is the highest number of complaints in a year since the launch of the hotline program, according to a report from the acuity’s auditor general.