Fifteen
people have been arrested so far in an ongoing investigation of construction
corruption in suburban Montreal, including the mayor of Mascouche, and the
owners of a Mascouche heavy civil construction contractor and a Laval construction
firm. Mascouche Mayor Richard Marcotte was arrested April 20 at Trudeau
International Airport on arriving home from a Cuban vacation, and charged with
fraud, corruption, breach of trust and conspiracy. Also arrested were Normand
Trudel, owner of Mascouche based Transport et Excavation Mascouche, Inc., and Antonio
Accurso, owner of Laval based Simard-Beaudry Construction, Inc.
A total
of 47 charges have been filed against the 15 arrested thus far, including fraud
against the government, acts of corruption in municipal affairs, conspiracy,
influencing a municipal official, breach of trust by a public official, and use
of forged documents. Quebec Premier Jean Charest is convening an independent
commission to begin hearings in the fall into construction industry corruption
involving construction firm executives, political parties, and the award of
municipal contracts.
