Qulliq Energy faces 3rd ex-worker lawsuit

Nunavut's public power utility is facing more court action from its former employees, this time by a senior finance official who claims he was wrongfully dismissed.

Adrian de Machado, 52, is accusing Qulliq Energy Corp. of terminating his job without cause or reasonable notice, according to a statement of claim filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in April.

De Machado is seeking $99,508 in wrongful dismissal damages, as well as unspecified damages for lost benefits. His lawsuit becomes the third againstQulliq Energy to be made public in the past six months.

Qulliq Energy hasdenied all the allegationsit has faced from former employees to date. Officials told CBC News they will not comment on de Machado's case or the other lawsuits that are before the courts.

According tohis statement ofclaim, de Machado was a controller in Qulliq Energy's finance department from May 2010 until Feb. 4, when he said he was let go "without adequate notice or adequate pay in lieu of notice."

"In terminating Adrian's employment, the defendant [Qulliq Energy] provided Adrian with two weeks' salary in lieu of notice," de Machado's claim states in part.

De Machado argues that he should be entitled to at least nine months' pay in lieu of notice, citing his age, the length of his employment, and the nature of his job at the utility.

Has yet to find new job

"At all times, Adrian was a loyal and dedicated employee, and performed all employment duties and obligations in a diligent, professional and competent manner," according to the statement of claim.

Since he was let go from Qulliq Energy, de Machado has yet to find another job, according to his claim.

De Machado's lawyer, Peter Cicak of Toronto, said he is fighting the matter in Ontario because that is where de Machado currently lives.

In January, Sarah Kucera and Amy Hynes told CBC News they havefiled separate lawsuits with the Nunavut Court of Justice, seeking a combined total of more than $1.4 million in compensation and punitive damages.

Kucera and Hynes, who both worked for Qulliq Energy until last year, accuse the utility of mismanagement, breach of contract and constructive dismissal.

Two other former workers, Joe Sageatook and Chris Cousins, told CBC News in March that theygot into trouble with their supervisors after they defended Inuit employment rights.