Quebec corruption inquiry says more work needs to be done
Charbonneau commision releases inconconclusive interim report
In an interim report released today, the Charbonneau commission says it needs more time before it can draw conclusions about the state of alleged corruption in the province's construction industry.
Premier Pauline Marois received the 28-page report earlier today, and her office has now released it to the public.
The report avoids drawing any conclusions about the state of corruption in Quebec.
"Possible solutions and recommendations should come out of a complete picture of the facts ... such a portrait has not yet been realized," the report states.
France Charbonneau, the commission chair, and her two commissioners — Roderick Macdonald and Renaud Lachance — signed off on the report.
Key facts
Since the the corruption inquiry began on Oct. 19, 2011:
- More than 100 witnesses have testified during 151 days of hearings.
- Witnesses were chosen from 1,152 people who met in person (sometimes more than once) with investigators and 82 people contacted by phone.
- Investigators read through 6,057 communications from the public, including phone calls, emails and mail.
Marois requested the report after commission chair France Charbonneau asked for more time to investigate alleged corruption in the province's construction industry.
The Parti Québécois government gave the go-ahead to extend the inquiry's mandate by 18 months, under the condition that commissioners release a report on their progress before the end of January 2014.