CTV Vancouver: Canadian lawyers play key role in money laundering, says financial intelligence report

Fintrac’s report is based on an analysis of more than 140,000 reports sent to the agency from third-party reporting entities, including banks and credit unions, between the start of 2017 and the end of 2020.

Reported transactions are not necessarily evidence of any crime, and Fintrac’s report does not say whether lawyers involved in those transactions are believed to have acted improperly.

But Michelle Gallant, a University of Manitoba law professor whose areas of expertise include money laundering, says the fact Fintrac sent disclosures based on those reports is significant.

“When they disclose, it means they’ve looked at something and they have enough reason to believe that maybe there’s some hints of wrongdoing or tainted finance,” Gallant said.

To read the full story, please visit CTV Vancouver. 

Professor Gallant also is featured in this article from CTV Montreal: Who’s watching lawyers? An expert weighs in on money laundering