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Mafia Corruption in Quebec
2

Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Mafia Corruption in Quebec

(OP)
Not sure how much coverage this has gotten outside of Canadian media, but right now there is a huge public inquiry going on about corruption and Mafia ties to the construction industry in Quebec.

From the way it sounds, it was impossible to do any work there without paying off the Mafia and sending kickbacks to elected officials. Looks like no-one who has done construction there is going to come out looking clean.

I cannot find the link, but I read earlier that at the end of the day, public projects were costing an extra 20-30% because of payoffs to organized crime and kickbacks to elected officials. There was even a consortium of construction companies that would meet together to decide who would bid on each project.

They even had the real "Donnie Brasco" in for testimony on Mafia culture.

Here is a timeline of the coverage from CBC:

CBC Timeline

Here is an overview: (Google Translate does a good job turning it to English)

Wikipedia article in French

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Reminds me of the Duplessis era of 40 years ago... not much has changed...

Dik

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Reminds me of southern Illinois in its hey-day

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

So why should Quebec be any different to New York , St Louis, or Chicago
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Or Baltimore. That city has the honor of both a vice VPOTUS and mayor go to prison.

I used to work in Italy. The mandatory Anti-Mafia screenings were hilarious.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Being Canadian working in Ontario, I'm following this. I'm not surprised this type of stuff happens, what amazes me is that senior guys are still not really feeling any heat. Most of the politicians who got kick-backs don't seem to really experiencing any discomfort.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

@SylvestreW

It's probably the same problem in english canada too... for the moment, ontario political elite have their head in sand and are still in denial.

If we beleive police of ontario, the ontario mafia (calabrese mafia) is a lot more dangerous than the one in Quebec (sicilian mafia).

--

What is incredible about the investigation, is that all witnesses are protected against lawsuit on subject they talk on the comittee !

So there is right now, a civil engineer that have admitted publically to accept bribe from contractor !! that's crazy !

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

It's not the kickbacks that worry me as much as the poor construction quality that results when corruption takes a slice off the top. Every time I drive over those bridges in Montreal I get the heebeegeebees...

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

In 1970, our church decided to build a new building for the congregation in New Jersey. The church hired a general contractor licensed in the state and allowed memebers to be unpaid workers to lower the cost that they had to pay for the construction. One day my father was there working and 2 black Cadillacs pulled into the driveway and started asking questions about union workers, etc. When told there were no union workers on that job site, they made a comment about 'having your fire insurance paid up' and piled back in their cars and drove off. Nothing ever happened to the building and it is still in use today.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Even the Mafia has a heart now and then??!!

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Even the Mafia knows NOT to screw around with GOD!!

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

(OP)
It was so good of him to lose that money gambling so it made it back to provincial coffers.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

You have to be shi$$ing me. Send him to jail - DO not pass GO - do not collect $200 -- although he obviously has!!

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

(OP)
I think, unfortunately, all those testifying at the inquiry get some immunity. Another city engineer testified today.

The main image in the article shows his left pinky with the iron ring. I agree with the top comment; he should have the ring taken and, if he wasn't retired already, his professional status removed too.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

I would expect that there will be some hearings at the OIQ (the PEng organization in Quebec), as I'm pretty sure that actions like this are grounds for being expelled, even if they are immune from a criminal charge.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

not in Quebec... it seems to be a way of life...

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

I was under the impression that an engineer was supposed to return the iron ring once they retired. Then again, that might be too much to expect from someone with his kind of ethics.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

I have never heard of returning an iron ring once you retired.

Oddly enough, I found my father's Obligation, signed in 1948, in my closet last night. I must put that away with other treasures.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

My 2 Cents : The iron ring has nothing to do with the professionnal order of engineer of Quebec (OIQ)"

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

Interesting point, I had never heard that the Iron Ring should be returned on retirement, most of the engineers I know keep them, and usually are buried with them.

I know that the Ring is independent of, and not related to, the professional societies, but the societies in each province can/will put you in touch with the local Camp when/if need be, ie, for replacement rings, etc.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

If you don't want the mafia in your town, there should be a public outcry first, then city people band together in thousands and kick them out of the city and if the mafia does not want to go, tar and feather the members. Nothing short of the unity of the city resident will do.

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

You could say the same thing about politicians, etc...

Dik

RE: Mafia Corruption in Quebec

I am from Quebec and trust me, we do not want the mafia chiopee. The problem is: it's everywhere. This thread focuses on construction, but there has been a recent news coverage saying it in the healthcare system and this morning, I read that this anti-corruption commission is now investigating Universities.

The political parties are financed by the mafia. The engineering firms understand they have to be close friends with the mafia. If you don't listen to their ''command'', like one person mentionned, they will come to you and threaten you.

Perhaps you guys have heard of the student protests that occured last spring. You should know that some of those protests were directly trying to fight this corruption (in this case found in the government). Many people have tried their best to get rid of this, but guess what?? The police is also corrupted.

Anyways, this might just sound like a rant, but there is not much we can do, because everyone with a bit of power, money or authority in this city has an indirect link with the mafia. Sucks to say really.

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