British Columbia has spent almost two years looking into money laundering involving the casino industry. The investigation is now getting around to politicians.
The Cullen Commission has targeted former Liberal Premier Christy Clark, her minister, Rich Coleman, and NDP Attorney-General David Eby. Clark, who served as premier from 2011 to 2017 when suspicious money inundated British Columbia casinos, can speak to her administration’s handling of gaming with the $1 billion in annual revenue.
Shirley Bond, interim Liberal leader and former minister of public safety and solicitor-general, expects to testify as well. During her watch, the Mounties ceased policing of the casinos and left things to Ottawa.
Michael de Jong, opposition attorney-general critic and former minister of finance, anticipates talking about the nuts and bolts of the previous administration’s response, according to the Vancouver Sun.
The Mounties lacked resources and expertise to manage the problem and felt the Canadian constitution on legal proceedings made it more difficult to win convictions. The agency will receive $98 million over five years to upgrade and create a new investigative team throughout Canada.
