Insider at the company says Export Development Canada loans were used for the bribes.
SNC-Lavalin is facing even more potential corruption scandals.
According to an insider at the company, SNC-Lavalin received money from Export Development Canada for what they called ‘technical fees,’ but which were actually often used to pay bribes in order to illegally get contracts in foreign countries.
Export Development Canada is funded by Canadian taxpayers.
According to a CBC report, “EDC has denied knowledge of any improper payments, but last Friday said it is taking a closer look at a 2011 deal with SNC-Lavalin involving a $250-million project to refurbish the Matala hydroelectric dam in Angola. EDC provided the Quebec-based company with “political risk insurance” for the project. “We would never, under any circumstances, knowingly participate in a transaction tainted by bribery or corruption,” David Bhamjee, EDC’s vice-president of corporate communications, wrote in an email. “This behaviour goes against EDC’s core values and deep-rooted culture of business integrity.”
Additionally, “The insider alleges that, prior to 2012 — when the head of SNC-Lavalin’s construction division was arrested in Switzerland for bribery in Libya — EDC was funding numerous projects that featured “slush funds.”
If true, this will be yet another reason why it looks so horrible for Justin Trudeau and the corrupt establishment elites to have pressured Jody Wilson-Raybould to interfere in the Public Prosecution Office and try to let SNC-Lavalin avoid trial.
Canadians are rightfully asking why we’re expected to follow all the rules and are punished when we don’t, yet big well-connected corporations (particularly Liberal-connected corporations) can seemingly get away with anything.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – YouTube
