Ex-Montreal No. 2 says he never knew of collusion in awarding city contracts

MONTREAL – One of Montreal’s most powerful politicians says he was completely unaware of collusion in the awarding of contracts in the city.

Frank Zampino, the former chair of the Montreal executive committee, is telling Quebec’s corruption inquiry that he never heard of such schemes.

During a second day of testimony at an inquiry, Zampino admitted after multiple questions that he and other elected officials discussed in 2002 and 2003 that construction projects in the City of Montreal cost as much as 20 per cent more than elsewhere in the province.

To date, Quebec’s corruption inquiry has heard that companies inflated the cost of public projects and the extra cash was divided between the Mafia, corrupt bureaucrats and Union Montreal, Zampino’s old party.

The ex-municipal politician says he never interfered in the awarding of contracts or any construction projects.

The former head of the city’s powerful executive committee is currently facing charges of fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust stemming from a 2008 land deal involving city-owned property that was sold to a developer.

Zampino is also facing questions about his ties to certain engineering bosses and to Bernard Trepanier, a party fundraiser and friend who has been referred to in media reports as “Mr. Three Per Cent.”

The inquiry is waiting to hear from Zampino’s ex-boss — former mayor Gerald Tremblay. Tremblay resigned last fall amid controversy over allegations made at the inquiry.