Construction and engineering executives were recognized Liberal fundraisers, inquiry told

MONTREAL – Quebec’s corruption inquiry is being told today that engineering executives and construction bosses were registered as official fundraisers for the provincial Liberal party.

Commission counsel Paul Crepeau noted the group includes many former Charbonneau Commission witnesses and some who are facing criminal charges stemming from corruption-related investigations.

Copies of certificates formally recognizing their status as party fundraisers were filed today at Quebec’s corruption inquiry.

While issuing the certificates to those individuals was not illegal, the woman in charge of fundraising for the Liberals during that time called it “disturbing.”

Violette Trepanier is on the stand defending her time as Liberal fundraising director, which ended in 2012.

Trepanier has testified that she didn’t follow up on who the donors were and whether they had an interest in obtaining a government contract.

Official documents from Quebec’s chief electoral officer suggests the Liberals raised more than $95 million between 1996 and 2011 — the years that are covered under the Charbonneau Commission’s mandate.