The final report from British Columbia’s public inquiry into money laundering is set to be submitted to the government today.
The New Democrat government appointed B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen in May 2019 to lead the inquiry after several official reports concluded that hundreds of millions of dollars linked to organized crime and the drug trade had affected the province’s real estate, luxury vehicle and gaming sectors.
The Cullen Commission’s website says its mandate includes making findings of fact on the extent, growth and methods of money laundering in B.C. and whether the acts or omissions of regulatory agencies and individuals “contributed to money laundering in the province or amount to corruption.”
Since the spring of 2020, the commission heard testimony from about 200 witnesses over 130 days, including former B.C. premier Christy Clark, several former and current cabinet ministers, police officers, gaming officials and financial crime experts and academics.
Two senior gaming investigators testified that they raised concerns in 2009 with gaming and government officials, including cabinet ministers, about increasing amounts of cash in Vancouver-area casinos that they suspected was connected to organized crime.
![Click to play video: 'Closing submissions underway in B.C. money laundering probe'](https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/u2bn2qbanj-936fweqmyg/CULLEN_WEB.png?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Attorney General David Eby testified he appointed an independent review of money laundering at B.C. casinos after watching videos of gamblers picking up large bags packed with $20 bills outside casinos and bringing them inside the venues.
![Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.](https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/themes/shaw-globalnews/images/skyline/national.jpg)
Get daily National news
Eby, who will receive a copy of Cullen’s report along with Finance Minister Selina Robinson and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, says the government plans to release the report, but he didn’t provide a date.
“I’m looking forward to the report,” says Eby. “Commissioner Cullen and his team worked very hard on it and heard from a lot of witnesses. I think it will be very helpful information for British Columbians about how we got into the mess we got into and also how we turn B.C. and Vancouver into a model for fighting money laundering instead of a centre where it takes place.”
- Ontario housing starts tumble, developers warn situation will ‘get worse before it gets better’
- Public records contradict Boissonnault business associate’s testimony to ethics committee
- Questions on Freeland’s future are ‘whispers in the shadows’: Liberal MP
- Can more competition drive down Canadian airfares? Watchdog launches probe
Comments