Quebec To Subpoena Witnesses in June in Contracting Bribe Probe
An independent commission created last year by Quebec Premier Jean Charest to probe constructionindustry corruption in the province will begin calling witnesses to testify in June, using new subpoena powers. Further, on April 27, the body won a court ruling that orders Canada’s national police force to release documents from a related probe of organized crime.
The hearings will further explore allegations of links among municipal officials, design firm and contractor executives, politicians and even Mafia figures in awarding public contracts. An April 17 police sting resulted in the arrest of 15 officials and managers of industry firms, including two U.S.-owned companies, in a probe of contract bribes dating back to 2005.