National Post (National Edition)
‘Central figure’ in Liberal sponsorship scandal
MONTREAL • Former federal Liberal party organizer Jacques Corriveau, who was eventually convicted after being described by a judge as a central figure in the sponsorship scandal, has died aged 85, his lawyer said Friday.
The former close associate of ex-prime minister Jean Chretien died June 23 and his funeral was held July 14, lawyer Gerald Souliere said in an interview.
A jury found Corriveau guilty in 2016 of fraud against the government, forgery and laundering the proceeds of crime in connection with the sponsorship scandal.
He was handed a four-year prison term in January 2017 and fined $1.4 million but was freed pending an appeal.
The sponsorship program was created after the 1995 sovereignty referendum to boost the federal government’s presence in Quebec. A public inquiry into the scandal, however, revealed firms were winning contracts based on donations to the federal Liberals, with little work being done.
A judge who headed the federal inquiry described Corriveau — who worked on Chretien’s leadership campaigns — as a “central figure” in the program.
“Jacques Corriveau was the central figure in an elaborate kickback scheme by which he enriched himself personally and provided funds and benefits to the (Quebec wing of the Liberal Party),” wrote Judge John Gomery, who headed the inquiry looking into program.
Corriveau testified at the inquiry in 2005. He maintained his innocence.
The Crown alleged Corriveau set up a kickback scheme on contracts awarded for the sponsorship program and used his design company to defraud the federal government between 1997 and 2003.
Corriveau was only charged for the crimes in December 2013 following an 11-year investigation.
In their appeal, Corriveau’s lawyers argued the trial judge erred by not invoking the lengthy delays to grant a stay of proceedings before the trial began.
Souliere said the appeal is no longer applicable because of Corriveau’s death.
“He was declared guilty so he will remain eternally someone who was declared guilty,” he said.
Souliere said, that while highly unlikely, a court could theoretically agree to hear the appeal despite Corriveau’s death, for purposes of settling inheritances or other matters related to his estate.