Woman who lied to get twin daughters Inuit status sentenced to three years in prison
CBC
A woman who admitted to defrauding Inuit organizations of more than $158,000 for her twin daughters' education has been sentenced to three years in a federal prison.
Karima Manji was sentenced in an Iqaluit courtroom Thursday morning.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Manji filled out forms in 2016 to enrol her daughters as Inuit children so they could become beneficiaries of the Nunavut land claim through Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. In the forms, Manji said her daughters were born to the late Kitty Noah from Iqaluit. Manji claimed to be their adoptive mother.
Those applications were approved, granting the twins Inuit status and giving them access to organizations like Kakivak Association, which offers scholarships and business opportunities meant for Inuit.
Nunavut Justice Mia Manocchio rejected the 18-month sentence recommended by the Crown, saying "only a penitentiary term" will suffice.
Manocchio said Manji "victimized the Inuit of Nunavut by stealing their identity" and said her crime was "premeditated."
NTI investigated and removed Manji's twin daughers from the enrolment list in April 2023.
In his submissions earlier this week, Manji's lawyer Scott Cowan said Manji takes care of her three children, and makes minimum wage while working odd jobs.
Cowan had submitted that there were several mitigating factors in Manji's case, including the fact that she pleaded guilty and that she paid back a portion of the money.
Manocchio rejected that, saying the sole mitigating factor in Manji's case was her guilty plea.
"Ms. Manji has victimized her own children ... her own daughters who have been severely compromised by her crimes," Manocchio said.
Manji has plaid back $130,000. Manocchio said she would also have to pay back the remaining $28,254 to the Kakivak Association in Nunavut.
"NTI is not the true or ultimate victim … the true victim of Ms. Manji's crime are the Inuit of Nunavut.
Manocchio said in considering Manji's sentence, she had to be mindful of the fact that she'd never served a prison sentence before.
The Yukon's energy provider says Whitehorse is not at imminent risk of blackouts, but with very cold weather forecasted through the holidays, residents are still being asked to conserve power.
A pedestrian is dead after a vehicle crashed into a building in Toronto, said police.
RCMP in Inuvik, N.W.T., say two youth have been arrested after officers found suspected cocaine and a loaded firearm at a home in the community.
Canada and 13 other countries issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Alberta health officials are flagging the circulation of a rare bacteria known as Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) among homeless adults living in Calgary.
The future of a prominent building in London's Old East Village (OEV), once home to the London Food Incubator, is looking uncertain following the relocation of its anchor tenant and the planned departure of another.
As Yukon continues to deal with a prolonged spell of extreme cold, emergency officials are advising people to be prepared in case of a power outage.
Police say they have found and arrested 47-year-old Douglas Yetman, a man wanted for murder.
Confirmed flu cases in northeastern Ontario are much higher now than they were at the same period last year.
The organization that represents some of America's largest spirits producers is calling for the NSLC to remove a policy that gives preferential markup to Nova Scotian spirit products.
Some energy experts are challenging N.B. Power’s claim that a proposed billion-dollar power plant is needed to avoid an electricity shortage predicted for 2028.
After walking a few laps around the shop, Maria Castagna picks up a glass ornament in the form of a pink, sparkly ice cream cone and smiles widely.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham says he has much unfinished work from his first term in office, as he prepares to make his pitch to voters ahead of the 2026 election.