Quebec anti-corruption unit says 90 per cent of convictions from fake COVID passports

By The Canadian Press on October 16, 2024.

Quebec’s anti-corruption unit released its annual report today, saying the past 12 months were busy.

The unit, know as UPAC, says 19 people were charged in criminal cases and 18 people were convicted during the 12 months ending March 31, 2024, while 265 individuals or companies were fined.

The number of people charged and convicted is roughly six times higher than in the preceding 12 months.

About 90 per cent of the convictions in the 2023-24 year were related to the production and use of false COVID-19 vaccine passports.

UPAC received 450 reports to its whistleblower line, with about 30 per cent of those from the public sector.

Interim chief Éric René says that even though 278 of those reports were judged frivolous or outside the unit’s mandate, “they are essential to our work and to maintaining the integrity of the state.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.

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