Money laundering public inquiry report to be released Wednesday afternoon

After nearly three years, 138 hearing days, 198 witness reports and more than 1,000 exhibits, the B.C. government is ready to release the final report from the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia.

Commissioner Austin Cullen is expected to take questions Wednesday at noon, followed by Attorney General David Eby.

The Cullen Commission’s final report is being released publicly as per the terms of the Public Inquiry Act and will be released in its entirety.

The report is expected to be more than 1,000 pages, and took longer than expected to complete due to the COVID-19 pandemic and connecting with witnesses.

Hearings and submissions were delayed until October, behind schedule by a few months.

2:29 Money laundering has rarely been given priority. It’s time for that to change’, says Cullen

• Money laundering has rarely been given priority. It’s time for that to change’, says Cullen
• Cullen is ‘hopeful’ the B.C. government can take on money laundering operations
• Cullen recommends developing a new office to deal with money laundering in B.C.
• ‘I think there was a failure of will’ to deal with money laundering in B.C., Cullen says
• Austin Cullen hopes his report will bring about meaningful change in B.C.

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The report looked into decisions made by casinos, BC Lottery Corp., and the government, and will examine why British Columbia became a hotbed for money laundering.

The government has made substantial policy changes already, including setting caps on cash transactions in casinos.

Politicians, including former minister Rich Coleman, testified during the public inquiry.

More information to come.

4:04 Federal government broadening scope of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules: Freeland

— with files from Richard Zussman and Canadian Press