Quebec Premier Jean Charest
27 April 2012. As a part of an ongoing investigation into construction industry in suburban Montreal, fifteen people have been arrested. Those arrested include the mayor of Mascouche, and the owners of a Mascouche heavy civil construction contractor and a Laval construction firm. Mascouche Mayor Richard Marcotte was arrested on 20 April 2012 at Trudeau International Airport on arriving home from a Cuban vacation, and charged with fraud, corruption, breach of trust and conspiracy. Also arrested were Normand Trudel, owner of Mascouche based Transport et Excavation Mascouche, Inc., and Antonio Accurso, owner of Laval based Simard-Beaudry Construction, Inc.
A total of 47 charges have been filed against the 15 arrested thus far, including fraud against the government, acts of corruption in municipal affairs, conspiracy, influencing a municipal official, breach of trust by a public official, and use of forged documents. Quebec Premier Jean Charest is convening an independent commission to begin hearings in the fall into construction industry corruption involving construction firm executives, political parties, and the award of municipal contracts.
