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Quebec and Montreal City Hall
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MONTREAL - As Quebec's College des Medecins revealed it will be hauling two prominent cardiologists before its disciplinary court over allegations of bribery, patients continue to contact the Montreal Gazette with fresh stories of cash-stuffed envelopes, handed over in exchange for fast-track care from their physicians. (PostMedia)
MONTREAL - Kinh Ho Quan, 56, and Hermel Bosse, 58, were arrested on charges alleging they took part in at least 20 fraudulent transactions totalling nearly $4.5M and bilked individuals, financial institutions and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (PostMedia)
MONTREAL - Quebec could be headed for financial disaster because of low fertility, high taxes and an "eye-popping" debt-to-GDP ratio that's the fifth highest in the world, says a new study. (QMI) REPORT: Quebec Family Portrait Nov 2011 .pdf
Contract to prosecutor's office QUEBEC CITY - A report into Quebec City's contract for a new hockey arena has been transferred to the provincial prosecutor's office following months of controversy surrounding the deal. (CP) REPORT: Findings of the investigation
Mayor denies influence peddling BLAINVILLE - The allegations of influence peddling and remittance of money to get a building permit for a daycare in Blainville "are pure lies," stated the Mayor of Blainville, François Cantin. (QMI) MORE: Mayor denies allegations of bribe Claims of payment for permits
MONTREAL - Union leader Dominique Bérube’s April 2003 drug conviction came after officers raided a warehouse in Montreal’s north end in 2002 and discovered 530 marijuana plants inside. Berubé pleaded guilty to one count of marijuana production - not drug trafficking. That move later allowed him to lead any union local in Quebec, despite the facts of his case. (QMI) MORE: Quebec may bar some convicts from leading unions
Garage collapse was preventable MONTREAL - The death of a man inside a collapsed parking garage could have been avoided had the structure been properly maintained and inspected, says a coroner's report released Friday. (CTV) MORE: Quebec to improve building inspections
QUEBEC - The Quebec government has doled out $3.9M in fines since August to motorists caught by photo radar and red light cameras. The most effective radar location is at the southbound 15 near the Atwater exit. Nearly 8,500 drivers have been caught at the site since the summer. (CTV) |
HUNTINGDON - The outspoken mayor of Huntingdon, Que., says the province's language laws are racist and the language police are a "language Taliban." (QMI) MORE: Turning back the language police in rural Quebec OQLF
MONTREAL - The province will head to court to seek a multimillion-dollar compensation from an engineering consortium it blames for last summer's collapse in the Viger Tunnel. (CTV)
MONTREAL - A Quebec government contract worth $3B has engineering firms flocking to the city. Construction companies from Spain, Italy and of course, Quebec, are among the 37 firms bidding on the Turcot Interchange project. (CTV) MORE: Stricter rules planned
ALMA - Jean-Francois Morency has admitted to dropping charges, in exchange for cash bribes, back when he was a prosecutor. (CP)
BOISBRIAND - The former mayor of Boisbriand is facing fraud charges after an investigation by Quebec's anti-corruption squad. Robert Poirier was arrested Tuesday and will face charges of fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and breach of trust. (CP) MORE: Former mayor arrested Hammer Squad arrest
MONTREAL - A professed holy man has been charged with committing an unholy act: defrauding the popular Quebec zoo Parc Safari out of nearly $1M in an alleged scheme involving two of his followers. (CP) MORE: Pastor arrested
The alleged money-laundering scheme involves construction entrepreneur Robert Thomas, a Caisse Populaire branch in Joliette and chartered accountant Jean Siminaro, who has been linked to the Hells Angels. (CBC)
Russian billionaire eyes partnership MONTREAL - A billionaire Russian industrialist wants to team up with Hydro-Québec to develop international power projects. Oleg Deripaska is the chief executive officer of the diversified Russian industrial group Basic Element. (CBC) PREVIOUS: FBI lets barred tycoon visit US Oligarch linked to mafia boss Oleg Deripaska
MASCOUCHE - A probe by Radio-Canada's investigative program Enquête has revealed close ties between the mayor of Mascouche, Que. and certain construction contractors. (CBC)
MONTREAL - An analysis by the Quebec Ministry of Finance suggests the province has one of the most heavily indebted economies in the industrialized world. (CP) REPORT: Debt of the Government of Quebec .pdf |
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Quebec Premier Jean Charest categorically rejected allegations that the wealthy and powerful Desmarais family exercises influence over his government. Mr. Charest acknowledged having attended “social events” and even having spent the night at the large Desmarais family estate known as ‘Sagard’ located in the picturesque Charlevoix region just east of Quebec City. (Globe & Mail) |
'Friendly' meetings not 'lobbying' |
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MONTREAL - The province's anti-corruption unit will investigate the $7-a-day daycare system amid allegations Liberal donors and other members got first dibs at operating permits. A (QMI) |
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MONTREAL - An $80,000 federal study into organized crime in the construction industry has been plagued by people's refusal to be interviewed. Of the 35 organizations contacted by the study authors, only 6 responded by putting forward representatives willing to speak. (CTV) Lise Theriault Michel Arsenault |
Transport Quebec releases ‘their’ figures Bill to tighten screws on construction firms |
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ST CONSTANT - An estimated 60 investigators working with the province's UPAC squad began executing "several" search warrants in St. Constan (Montreal Gazette) Corruption squad targets mayor Jacques Duchesneau Robert Lafreniere Head of anti-collusion squad fired To the Charbonneau Commission? |
Corruption commission faces security breach Emails for corruption inquiry reportedly hacked Tories declare port corruption case closed Scandal's slippery slope Le rapport de l'Unite anticollusion Opposition says Charest protecting Mafia Corruption 'well rooted' into construction sector |
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Link between tax auditors & construction Montreal roadways need urgent repairs Bridges, tunnels, in critical condition Corruption probe sought before Plan starts |
Anti-corruption boss gets to work Option isn't real-world Quartier des Spectacles Hammer's latest round-up underway What lies beneath Quebec's scandals Charest demands apology from MacLean's Quebec the most corrupt province No evidence of influence peddling |
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'Because we paid, we received' Contractor says lobbyist won him job Charest gambles with Liberal Party's future Residents don't believe denials Charest ends appearance as witness Fundraiser denies influence-peddling |
MPs reject request to audit expenses Inquiry can't save Charest's reputation Construction companies charged Charges laid in bid-rigging scheme Quebec to tighten cap on political donations Head of anti-corruption unit steps down Are politicians as jaded as voters? |
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MONTREAL - The head of engineering giant SNC-Lavalin said Monday a report on alleged corruption in Quebec's construction industry raises "troubling" issues, but not enough to warrant a public inquiry. Pierre Duhaime said the report by former Montreal police chief Jacques Duchesneau was very broad and didn't substantiate allegations that have shaken the industry for nearly three years. (CP) |
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QUEBEC - Besides the heroin, cocaine and hashish they smuggled, Mafia Inc. describes the mob’s close relationship with the construction industry, with video lottery terminal distributors, with car dealerships, with politicians at all levels of government and any number of restaurant, real estate and other seemingly legitimate businesses. The scope of organized crime’s influence in so many sectors of the economy is flabbergasting. (Montreal Mirror) |
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Political contributions part of trail MONTREAL - Contributions made to Bob Rae's failed bid to take over the leadership of the federal Liberal party in 2006 appear to have helped the RCMP connect the dots in part of their continuing investigation into alleged corruption of Canada Revenue Agency employees. Project Cloche is an offshoot of the CRA investigation that produced tax evasion charges against Bruno as well as companies owned by construction magnate Tony Accurso. (PostMedia) |
Other Accurso companies untouched by ban Former CEO confirms intervention The senator, the port authority and the 'big boss' Montreal Port Authority Dimitri Soudas ’Normal’ to meddle in appointments |
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MONTREAL - According to highway inspection reports from Quebec’s transport department. Montreal’s Turcot interchange and adjacent structures are in such poor condition the province plans to spend at least $254M just to keep them safe. (QMI) |
Project to replace rink unnecessary |
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At least $1.3B to replace bridge Pleas end chance to turn on spotlight Firms plead guilty to tax-evasion How schemes build a floating palace Probe from hard hats to high rise offices Biker with a reputation for doing business |
'Serious indications of irregularities' 2 more nabbed in Operation Hammer Operation Hammer: former mayor arrested Quebec to cap crown corp bonuses Former police chief to head unit Gomery concerned about City Hall corruption |
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Miranda on vacation with contractors Borough mayor tied to contractor Mob linked to construction and politics No place for Ottawa in Mafia investigation |
Liberals suffered Acurso effect Number of contracts without bidding increases Politician's paving company contracts up 66% Politician under investigation Montreal has loss control of projects No trace of 2007 ADQ fundraiser 'Falsehoods, questionable journalistic treatment' |
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Construction boss tried to fix local election Quebec union leader denies OC link Hells Angels involved in union election FTQ Construction under investigation FTQ Construction Fonds de solidarite FTQ Luxury Inn burns down Joncas Adventure |
Between criminal world and business world Government launches investment in infrastructure |
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QUEBEC - A former family minister in Premier Jean Charest's Quebec cabinet has been slapped with three criminal charges in the latest ethics embarrassment to befall the government. Tony Tomassi faces charges of fraud and breach of trust. (CBC) Anti-corruption squad to probe City Hall AG won't submit to city council City spying on city's Auditor General |
Corruption crackdown faces blowback Charest willing to give up $75K annual bonus Annual reports of the AG of Quebec Minister fired over ethics concerns
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Tremblay vows to clean up city hall Montreal election Quebec municipal elections Fix the way the city does business 'Your' money and 'their' money Partners cashed in on rezoned farmland Quebec police investigate missing millions |
Marois, Blanchet suing Gazette for $2M How estate was built on public, farm lands SLAPP Media manipulation techniques |
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Auditors hopped flight to Bahamas Just where are those billions for infrastructure going exactly? City to take control of SHDM SHDM Why Quebeckers should be worried Tories slammed for appointing Hells Angels lawyer House passes a 'very, very bad idea' Doubt over the credibility of the justice system |
Police raid offices of Quebec Federation of Labour Controversial condos go up in flames Extra money for political leaders How judges are alleged to be picked |
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MONTREAL - A Quebec Superior Court judge ruled on Wednesday that the City of Montreal went too far when it prevented Auditor General Jacques Bergeron from accessing his budget during a spying scandal. (CTV) |
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Hydro Quebec rolling out smart meters MONTREAL - Hydro-Québec is moving into the digital age with a plan to deploy about 3.8M “smart” meters across the province by 2017. The utility announced Wednesday a $350M deal with global giant Landis+Gyr for the acquisition of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and about 3M next-generation meters. (Montreal Gazette) |
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MONTREAL - Over the past half century, many authors have toyed with the notion of bulk water export. One of the more recent efforts was a report published by the Montreal Economics Institute last year entitled Quebec's blue gold. They have always turned out to be wrong for the same basic reasons. (Toronto Star) |
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