WINNIPEG – Manitoba RCMP confirmed Wednesday they have launched an investigation into the City of Winnipeg’s controversial police headquarters construction project.
Mounties executed a search warrant at the offices of a company involved in the $210-million renovation of the former Canada Post building downtown. RCMP cruisers were parked in front of Caspian Projects at 2245 McGillivray Blvd. Wednesday.
The RCMP federal, serious and organized crime unit “completed a review of the forensic audit regarding the construction of the Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters and this is now considered a full investigation,” the Mounties said in a news release Wednesday.
They confirmed earlier Wednesday they were executing a search warrant at Caspian, and later confirmed the warrant was in relation to the city police HQ investigation. Officers returned Thursday to complete their search of the firm.
Provincial justice officials asked the RCMP in August to review an audit done on the $210-million project, which involved renovating the old Canada Post warehouse on Graham Avenue downtown to turn it into the city’s new police headquarters. The project was plagued by delays, cost overruns and accusations that city council was left in the dark about details.
A newspaper report this month quoted unnamed sources saying the RCMP was investigating allegations of altered invoices and a payment to a member of city council.
The Mounties were also asked to look into an audit of the city’s fire station construction program, which involved a controversial land swap with a developer. RCMP said Wednesday that review is still underway and not yet a full investigation.
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