RCMP CHARGES TWO IN SPONSORSHIP INVESTIGATION
By Adnews Staff
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have laid six charges of fraud against Charles Guité, a former official at Public Works and Government Services Canada, and Jean Brault, president of Montreal-based Groupaction Marketing. The charges are part of the RCMP's investigation of irregularities in the federal Sponsorship Program. The charges are in connection with three visibility program contracts awarded to Groupaction between 1996 and 1999 worth $500,000, $550,000 and $575,000. Guité and Brault are also alleged to have conspired in a fake contract worth $330,000 for a communications strategy related to firearms legislation, and to have defrauded the government of $150,000 during the handling of another firearms-related contract. According to the RCMP, the investigation is ongoing.