Lawyer Guy Pinsonneault, Foundator (became judge at the Cour du Québec)
Lawyer Roger Pothier (or Roger D. Pothier), Co-Foundator
Lawyer Paul Bégin, Co-Foundator, (became Minister of Justice) [Wikipedia] [Assemblée nationale]
Lawyer Pierre Delisle, Co-Foundator and brother-in-law of Me Michael Fortier
November 11, 2005 The Government of Canada announced today that it has added 12 new defendants and $12.9 M to its civil suit to recover funds improperly received through the now cancelled sponsorship program.
As a result, the Government is now claiming a revised total amount of $57M against 28 firms and individuals. This amount does not include the $1.6M that has already been recovered through settlement agreements.
The 12 individuals and companies being added to the claim are:
- Publicité Dézert Inc.
- Eric Lafleur
- Pluridesign Canada Inc.
- Jacques Corriveau
- Andrée Côté Gosselin
- CPPC - Centre de placement de Professionnels en communication Inc.
- Communications Art Tellier Inc.
- Benoît Renaud
- Sensas (G.E.C.M.)
- Everest Estrie Publicité (G.E.C.M.) Inc.
- Everest Commandites (G.E.C.M.) Inc.
- Everest Publicité Promotions (G.E.C.M.) Inc.
- refined the amounts previously claimed ($40.8M);
- removed claims that had been settled with three defendants (Paul Coffin, Communication Coffin and Groupe OSL Inc.), and;
- added new amounts ($7.8M) claimed from 13 of the original defendants. This extra amount includes $4.3 million against Groupaction Marketing and Jean Brault, $1.9 million against Jean Lafleur, and smaller sums from other defendants previously named in the case.
February 6, 2006 Michael M Fortier becomes Minister of Public Works and Government Services.
February 27, 2006
Ottawa, OntarioPrime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, has agreed to summon Michael M. Fortier of Québec to the Senate. The appointment is effective immediately.
Michael Fortier is a financier and lawyer in Montreal, Quebec. As a partner at Ogilvy Renault, he specialized in securities, mergers and acquisitions. From 1992 to 1996, he managed Ogilvy Renault’s office in London, England. In 1999, he became the Managing Director and Senior Advisor (Eastern Canada) at Crédit Suisse First Boston. In 2004, Mr. Fortier became Corporate Financing Director (Quebec) for TD Securities. Mr. Fortier has been involved in politics for many years. He was a candidate in Laval West, Quebec, in 2000. Mr. Fortier was co-chair of Mr. Harper’s leadership campaign for the new Conservative Party of Canada in 2003, and during the last election, he was co-chair of the national campaign.
Mr. Fortier is married and has five children.
The government is also taking this opportunity to: restructure and format the Claim so that it is easier to understand; provide more details about the allegations; refine the amounts previously claimed ($1M); and comply with the Quebec Superior Court's order to remove certain information from the Claim.
As a result, the government is now claiming a revised total amount of $63M against 30 firms and individuals, jointly and severally. This amount does not include the $1.6M that has already been recovered through settlement agreements.
"This amendment is a direct result of the federal government's commitment to restore accountability and recover misused sponsorship funds," said the Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. "With this amendment, we are now including further allegations of fraud and the Government is showing Canadians that it is committed to protecting their hard-earned tax dollars."
August 19, 2006 Lawyer Pierre Delisle is still on the Internet site of Pothier Delisle
September 13, 2006 (to come)
June 27 2007, Jean Lafleur is sentenced to 42 months in jail
January 31 2008, Settlement Agreement [Click here]
TRANSACTION AGREEMENT entered into on the dates and in the places mentioned hereinafter:
BETWEEN:
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, c/o the Department of Justice Canada, 200 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, 5th Floor, City of Montréal, Province of Quebec, H2Z 1X4, herein acting and represented by Micheline Van Erum, her representative, duly authorized to act herein;
("Government of Canada")
AND:
GROUPACTION MARKETING INC., a legal person having its head office at 500 Place d’Armes, Suite 2420, City of Montréal, Province of Quebec, H2Y 2W2;
("Groupaction Marketing");
GOSSELIN RELATIONS PUBLIQUES INC., a legal person having its head office at 500 Place d’Armes, Suite 2420, City of Montréal, Province of Quebec, H2Y 2W2;
("Gosselin Relations Publiques")
CPPC – CENTRE DE PLACEMENT DE PROFESSIONNELS EN COMMUNICATION INC., a legal person having its head office at 130 Albert Street, City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, K1P 5G4;
("CPPC");
ALLÉLUIA DESIGN INC., a legal person having its head office at 500 Place d’Armes, Suite 2420, City of Montréal, Province of Quebec, H2Y 2W2;
("Alléluia");
GROUPAXION NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS INC., a legal person having its head office at 500 Place d’Armes, Suite 2420, City of Montréal, Province of Quebec, H2Y 2W2;
("Groupaxion");
JEAN BRAULT, 330 Savoie Street, City of Longueuil, Province of Quebec, J4H 1Y2;
("Brault");
