SNC-LAVALIN EXECUTIVE ADMITS PAYMENTS TO QUEBEC POLITICIANS

摘要

An SNC-Lavalin executive has admitted to an inquiry into corruption in the construction industry in the Canadian province of Quebec that the contractor donated more than CA$1 million (€758 million) to Quebec political parties. Yves Cadotte, SNC-Lavalin general vice-president of transport, infrastructure and buildings, told the Charbonneau inquiry that managers approved the payments after local political parties requested money on an annual basis. The payments were made to the Parti Quebecois and Liberal party between 1998 and 2010, the inquiry heard. It is illegal for corporations to donate to political parties in Quebec, but Mr Cadotte told the inquiry that the law had not always been as explicit as it was now. Mr Cadotte said the contractor decided to make the payments to ensure it could continue doing business in the province. "Not contributing could be an intangible risk. Maybe it doesn't exist. Maybe it does. But in our mind, it's a risk we didn't necessary want to take," he told the inquiry.