Summerside councillor charged criminally over veteran group funding

A charge of theft over $5,000 has been laid against Summerside Coun. Barbara Ann Gallant, according to documents filed in court in the small Prince Edward Island city.

The municipal councillor has not yet appeared in front of a judge in the matter, CBC News has learned.

The charge sheet says that between Feb. 13, 2022, and Nov. 27, 2023, police believe Gallant "did steal money, the property of the Lest We Forget veterans committee, of a value exceeding $5,000, contrary to sections 322 and 344 A (i) of the Criminal Code."

Gallant is now under a legal undertaking to not to go to the residence four specific people.

A news release from the City of Summerside on Tuesday morning said any action under the its Code of Conduct bylaw would be deferred until the criminal matter has concluded, and that it would not be commenting further on the case.

A city official told CBC News that Gallant will remain a councillor — that won't change unless she is found guilty.

Stressing that the matter was not connected to Gallant's work as a city councillor, the city directed any inquiries to the Summerside police department.

Gallant is new to council, elected to office for the first time in November 2022.

A certified esthetician by profession, she has also been very active with veterans' groups over the years.

At the time of her election, she was executive director of the P.E.I. Veterans' Success Centre, and from 2003-06 she was president of the Summerside Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. She was also chairperson of the "Lest We Forget" committee for over 10 years.