B.C. money laundering inquiry set to begin February

A commission charged with looking into British Columbia's money laundering problemhas confirmed the dates for its public hearings.

In an email Thursday, the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia said itwill begin hearing opening statements from stakeholders participants granted formal standing at the hearings over the course of four days beginning Feb. 24, at the Federal Court of Canada in Vancouver, B.C.

Another five-week period, beginning May 25, will deal with an overview of money laundering and regulatory models, as well as the extent of illegal activity in the province.

The main hearings beginning in Septemberwill deal with more than a dozen identified areas of illegal activity in the B.C. economy, from gambling transactions on the floor of some of Metro Vancouver's biggest casinos, to cash transactions for luxury goods and online trading ofcryptocurrency.

The Cullen Commission, which is named after B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen,was first announced in May, 2019by Premier John Horgan, after a series of reportsrevealed the enormous scale of B.C.'s money laundering problem.

Former RCMPillegal gaming enforcement commander Fred Pinnockbecame the whistleblowerwhen he began speaking out publicly about what he had observed in his official role with the force.

The commission is still determining if Pinnock will be granted standing in the probe.

British ColumbiaLotteryCorp. senior executive Brad Demarais wasdenied separate standing as an individual, although he could still be called as a witness.

Official inquiry dates

Feb.24 28

• Commission to hear participant opening statements.

May 25 June 26

• Counsel considers overview and extent of money-laundering in the province.

Sept. 8 Dec.22

• Main hearings to address specific issues:
  • Gaming, casinos, horseracing
  • Real estate
  • Professional services, including accounting and legal
  • Corporate sector
  • Financial institutions and money services
  • Luxury goods
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Cash-based businesses
  • Trade-based money laundering
  • Other sectors
  • Asset recovery
  • Enforcement and regulation
  • Government response
  • Other jurisdictions' approaches

The role of the commission is to investigate and determine where and how money laundering is taking place in the province. It is not able to convict or find liabilitybut is expected to issue recommendations in its final report in May, 2021.