MONTREAL — The last 30 months of Quebec’s corruption inquiry has provided some gripping testimony about how the Mafia operates in the province and compelling testimony from many star witnesses.
READ MORE: Quebec corruption inquiry ends after 30 months of public hearings
Here’s a look at a few of the highlights:
The star of the show
Looking over her dark-rimmed glasses with her eyes of steel, Justice France Charbonneau presided over the provincial inquiry into widespread corruption with tenacity and fearlessness and is now hailed as an incarnation of justice in Quebec.
READ MORE: Corruption in Quebec: A blow-by-blow account
Wads of cash stuffed in socks
Like a scene out of Goodfellas, Canada’s “Mafia Godfather” Nicolo Milioto, testified about the hidden camera footage that showed him, and other reputed Mafiosos like Nick Rizzuto Sr. and Rocco Sollecito, stuffing wads of cash into their socks at Café Consenza in Montreal: “When they do something, they bring us something, and we always divide it in five.”
READ MORE: ‘Mr Sidewalk’ gets testy – and told off – at Quebec corruption inquiry
Accurso defends his reputation
Powerful former construction mogul Antonio (Tony) Accurso walked away from the witness chair relatively unscathed, insisting he didn’t cater to organized crime figures or woo politicians for favours on “The Touch” — his now-famous luxury yacht, and dropping several bombshells.
READ MORE: Tony Accurso testifies at Quebec corruption inquiry
… about that yacht
“The Touch,” the yacht of former construction magnate TonyAccurso, made a star appearance at the inquiry, as union leaders admitted to accepting invitations to travel on his boat. Accurso also divulged that Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger once vacationed on his yacht as an invited guest, causing a storm of reaction on social media.
READ MORE: Why is Mick Jagger trending in Montreal?
A picture is worth…?
A photograph of high-powered union boss Jean Lavallee and former head of the construction wing of Quebec’s biggest labour federation having his back washed by construction magnate Tony Accurso while on vacation caused a stir at Quebec’s corruption inquiry.
READ MORE: Photo of Quebec union, construction boss makes splash at corruption inquiry
Bombshell about outspoken corruption critic
Anti-corruption czar, Jacques Duchesneau was furious after former construction magnate Tony Accurso testified at Quebec’s corruption inquiry on Friday that he gave $250,000 to help the former Montreal police chief.
READ MORE: Duchesneau furious after Accurso drops donation bombshell
Mafia’s “Ten Commandments”
From its secret codes, its origins and the scope of its reach to how it got into the construction business, criminologist Valentina Tenti shared a detailed history of the Italian Mafia, including the so-called “Ten Commandments” of the Sicilian Mafia, the list of rules under which members must supposedly live.
READ MORE: Mafia 101: Quebec corruption probe gets scholarly rundown on how Mob works
Tales of collusion from the source
Ex-construction boss Lino Zambito testified for days about his personal involvement with a bid-rigging cartel, a Mafia tax on projects and corrupt city officials who accepted kickbacks.
READ MORE: Zambito’s last day on the stand at Quebec’s corruption inquiry
Allegations against Pauline Marois
Testimony surfaced about a wiretap where union bosses alleged they had a deal with Claude Blanchet, the husband of then-Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois to stop the inquiry from taking place.
READ MORE: Marois’ spouse solicited $25,000: report
Donnie Brasco makes an appearance
Behind an identity-shielding barrier, former FBI agent Joe Pistone, better known as Donnie Brasco, waxed nostalgic about the days where he stuck a stake in the heart of the American Mafia.
READ MORE: Quebec’s 21st-century mobs not so different from the 70s: Donnie Brasco
Former Montreal mayor defends his innocence
Gerald Tremblay, the former mayor of Montreal who resigned in the midst of a corruption scandal in 2012, told the inquiry: “I am not naive.” when asked how he could have missed the rampant corruption in his party, Union Montreal.
READ MORE: Ex-Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay kicks off eyebrow-raising appearance at corruption probe
Ex-deputy premier of Quebec takes the stand
The highest-ranking former politician to appear was ex-deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau, who has been accused of benefiting from illegal financing, accepting gifts and favouring funding for projects involving firms that donated heavily to the Quebec Liberal party.
READ MORE: Former deputy premier of Quebec testifies at provincial corruption inquiry
“Rambo” denies using violence
One of Quebec’s most controversial union representatives, Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier, took the stand to deny he used violence and intimidation against contractors. His alleged practices led the government to modify labour laws, taking worker placement out of the hands of the unions.
READ MORE: ‘Rambo’s testimony at Quebec corruption inquiry done
Quebec unions linked to Mafia and Hells Angels
A star witness was Ken Pereira, a long-time union organizer turned whistleblower who sounded the alarm about how the Mafia and Hells Angels were tied to Quebec union officials and gained access to a multi-billion-dollar Quebec pension fund.
READ MORE: Quebec corruption inquiry on hold after key witness hospitalized
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