Richmond resident Jack Trovato delivered a petition to the B.C. Legislature Thursday with 3,363 signatures asking for action on money laundering especially as it relates to real estate in the Lower Mainland.
The petition asks for a public inquiry and a commission that could investigate and prosecute those involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and profiteering in real estate.
Trovato, who ran for council in 2018 under the Richmond Citizens’ Association banner, had two reasons motivating him to start the petition: the opioid crisis and the housing crisis, both of which have been linked to money laundering.
Instead of complaining, Trovato said he wanted to do something about the housing crisis. And, while the province now has a Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, Trovato found the overdose death numbers “horrific.”
“It’s not actually getting better – it’s getting worse,” he said.
Trovato presented the petition to Andrew Weaver, the leader of the Green Party, along with Colleen Glynn, president of the federal NDP riding association for Richmond Centre.
Trovato said Weaver was “supportive” of the petition and he tabled it in the Legislature after Question Period. He pointed out other organizations including the BC Green Party and the BCGEU have also started petitions, and he believes there’s a widespread appetite in the province for a public inquiry into all the issues related to money laundering, including smuggling and drug trafficking and tax evasion, whose profits have ended up invested in real estate.
“It seems to be an institutional problem that needs to be addressed by an outside perspective,” Trovato said.
Trovato’s petition asked for a public inquiry to identify the international money launderers who have been involved in real estate, identify elected officials and special interest groups responsible. The petition also asks for a task force to be formed to stop money laundering, and that the assets of people who have laundered money be seized and “used to help those impacted by the opioid crisis and to build affordable housing.”
An independent review of money laundering by Peter German was released last year, which gave extensive details about alleged money laundering at River Rock Casino.
A few months ago, he released information t that outlined the lack of federal policing resources working on money laundering. He concluded that there were no federal RCMP officers in B.C. dedicated to money-laundering investigations and the few provincial RCMP officers who were working on the issue were largely focused on civil forfeiture, not criminal prosecutions.
A second report from German is expected to be released soon. It is currently being reviewed by ministry staff.
Richmond city council passed a motion earlier this year to ask the provincial government to call a public inquiry into money laundering with the ability to call witnesses.
According to the Ministry of Attorney General, a public inquiry has not been ruled out, but that will be decided by cabinet.
