Corruption

OTTAWA -The federal government is expected to pull the plug on its prosecution of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman for alleged breach of trust, the National Post has learned. (Ottawa Citizen)

Law enforcement officials are alleging that an official in the B.C. government has been selling racetrack licences and work permits to illegal immigrants from Mexico. Two weeks ago, as a part of their investigation into this matter, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) conducted a large raid at the Hasting Racetrack in Vancouver. According to a law enforcement source who spoke to the Sun, 23 people were arrested. (True North)

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Eby and de Jong trade barbs over Hastings Racecourse scandal

A conservative government watchdog group filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s top aide of funneling $1 million in donations into his private accounts in a possible violation of the law, according to a report. (New York Post)

The new Justice Minister and Attorney General, David Lametti met with and was lobbied by SNC-Lavalin in 2017. The Montreal construction and engineering giant is involved in the biggest political scandal to hit the Trudeau government since coming into office in 2015. (TNC News)

MONTREAL - Quebec prosecutors are working with the RCMP on the possibility of new criminal charges against SNC-Lavalin tied to a contract to refurbish Montreal’s Jacques Cartier Bridge, court documents show. (National Post)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office attempted to press Jody Wilson-Raybould when she was justice minister to intervene in the corruption and fraud prosecution of Montreal engineering and construction giant SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., sources say, but she refused to ask federal prosecutors to make a deal with the company that could prevent a costly trial. (Globe & Mail)

A pharmaceutical company founder accused of paying doctors millions of dollars in bribes to prescribe a highly addictive fentanyl spray was convicted Thursday in a case that exposed such marketing tactics as using a stripper-turned-sales-rep to give a physician a lap dance. (CBC)

It’s been a stunning 24 hours in Canadian politics since I wrote about former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould taking a wrecking ball to the Parliament of Canada. (True North)

Prominent Vancouver businessman David Sidoo, indicted last month on a fraud conspiracy charge in connection with what U.S. authorities allege was a “nationwide college admissions scam,” now also faces a new criminal charge of money laundering conspiracy. (The Province)

MONTREAL - A former SNC-Lavalin executive on trial for fraud and corruption has been found guilty of the crimes. Sami Bebawi, 73, faced trial on five charges, including fraud, corruption of foreign officials and laundering proceeds of crime. (Toronto Sun)