news Federal minister says no sign stimulus money winding up in Mob hands

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Federal minister says no sign stimulus money winding up in Mob hands



18 minutes ago

By The Canadian Press


MONTREAL - Canada's public safety minister says there's no sign that federal stimulus money is going to the Mob.

The comments from Peter Van Loan come amid a torrent of reports about criminal collusion in the construction industry. The scandal has rocked Quebec, but experts on the Italian Mafia note that the practice exists elsewhere.

There are reports of a construction cartel sucking up public money in Quebec, and they come just as Ottawa and the provinces begin to shower billions on the biggest infrastructure spending spree in the country's history.

There are widespread calls for a public inquiry into allegations that construction companies are colluding to drive up the price of public works projects, threatening companies that don't participate, and giving commissions to the Mafia.

Van Loan, the minister responsible for the RCMP, says he's not aware of any such concerns being raised in projects involving federal infrastructure money.