Latest news with #Streicker
CBC
02-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
MLAs to debate Yukon Party motion to summon Victoria Gold receiver
Social Sharing MLAs appear ready to summon representatives of the Victoria Gold receiver to answer questions at the Yukon's Legislative Assembly, just as an Ontario court approved the company's request to increase its borrowing limit. On Tuesday, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice heard a request from PricewaterhouseCoopers to raise its borrowing limit to $220 million. The receiver needs the court to authorize how much money it can borrow to do its work remediating the Eagle Gold mine site after a disastrous heap leach failure last year. John Streicker, the Yukon's minister of energy, mines and resources, confirmed during question period that afternoon that the court had granted the request. The court decision came just ahead of opposition Wednesday in the Yukon Legislature, when private members' business can be debated. The Yukon Party will call a motion by its mining critic Scott Kent. If passed, the motion would have two PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) executives — senior vice presidents Michelle Grant and Graham Page — appear as witnesses before committee of the whole on April 29. Grant and Page would be called to answer questions regarding the receivership, operations and management of the Eagle Gold mine, according to the motion. "There's a number of questions. Obviously, one of the concerns that we have is the budget [for the cleanup] — which had early estimates of $150 million — is now at $220 million," Kent said. Kent also wants to question PwC about water treatment at the site, a leak from a containment pond and the viability of selling the site. "We're concerned about what their [PwC's] exit plan is, when they feel that their work will be done and they'll be able to either sell the assets or turn it over to the government," he said. NDP and Liberal support It already appears the motion has enough votes to pass. The Yukon NDP said in an email that it will vote with the Yukon Party, because it wants PwC to answer MLAs' questions publicly. Speaking to reporters, Streicker indicated that he will back the motion as well, saying he had his own questions for the court-appointed receiver. "I hope that just as I will support them in their motion to bring in the witnesses, I hope they will support us to pose questions," Streicker said. The Yukon government has been giving the receiver advances to cover the cost of its work and, now that PwC's request has been approved, it's expected to do so again. That has led the Official Opposition to call for scrutiny into how the money is spent. "I think there needs to be some accountability from them [PwC] for the work they're doing up there and the money they're spending," Kent said. "Whether it's a combination of Yukon government at the political level, at the officials' level, providing oversight to these expenditures and questioning them so that we can ensure Yukoners are getting value for money." Streicker said PwC is already subject to oversight by various parties, including the government, the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, and the courts. He also pointed to the numerous reports the receiver has published online. The minister also noted a schism between how the Liberals and Yukon Party view the receivership. The Yukon Party has said that the best outcome for taxpayers and businesses would have been to allow Victoria Gold to retain control of the mine, to pay for the environmental cleanup and to return the mine to production. Meanwhile, the Liberals say Victoria Gold was not following its directions on mitigation and when its ability to fund the cleanup was in question, they asked the courts to intervene. "I disagree with them that the receiver is not accountable. I disagree that this is an inappropriate spending of funds. I think that this is protecting the environment and protecting people," Streicker said.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ reviewing ‘ComEd Four' bribery case, defense reveals in asking for sentencing delay
The Department of Justice is reviewing the convictions in the landmark 'ComEd Four' bribery case involving former House Speaker Michael Madigan on counts involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which the Trump administration says has been stretched beyond its intended reach. The revelation, which further threatens to unwind what had been a slam-dunk victory for the U.S. attorney's office, came during a status hearing in the ComEd case on Thursday, where prosecutors asked to proceed to sentencing on the counts that U.S. District Judge Manish Shah left standing. Defense attorneys strongly objected, saying they received a letter recently from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's office saying the case was under review by the Department of Justice, which would make a decision whether the false statements counts charged under the FCPA should be dropped. The defense also said the Supreme Court's ruling last week in the case of former Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson gives them further ammunition to argue that the false statements counts should not stand. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, however, said they have no timetable on when the attorney general might weigh in and have 'received no guidance' on what the decision might be. 'We will follow whatever guidance we get,' she said. Streicker also said there was no basis to delay sentencing any further in this case, including over the issue of Thompson's case, which she said involves a different statute and has no bearing on the ComEd verdict. 'The defendants have had more than a full opportunity over the past two years to make post trial motions…It is now time for sentencing,' Streicker said. There is no basis to just delay sentencing based upon a hope that something might turn the defendant's way.' Shah agreed, saying he was satisfied that a proceeding to sentencing would finally bring the prosecution to a close and leave it in the hands of appellate courts. He said he wanted to sentence the four defendants separately sometime in July and asked the parties to consult their schedules and get back to him. Before the hearing adjourned, however, attorney Patrick Cotter, who represents longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, appeared to grow agitated, telling the judge that the defendants could find themselves sentenced on charges just before the Department of Justice rules should never have been brought in the first place. 'It seems to me, to be quite frank, reckless to proceed with sentencing,' Cotter said. 'It does affect the position of the defendants …I would ask you to consider waiting until we get a response.' But Shah denied the request without further argument. 'I don't agree it is reckless,' he said, adding that if something changes, he 'sure you'll tell me.' 'You have your lines of communication with the Department of Justice and I'm not doing anything to interfere with that,' Shah said. 'My view is that it's more important to proceed to conclusion than wait on uncertain and amorphous deliberations happening' in Washington. The ComEd Four defendants — McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; internal ComEd lobbyist John Hooker; and consultant Jay Doherty — were convicted in May 2023 in an alleged scheme by the utility to funnel payments to Madigan-favored contractors in exchange for the longtime Democratic speaker's influence over legislation in Springfield. Earlier this month, Shah granted a new trial on some counts, saying the Supreme Court's ruling last year on a key bribery statute means the jury was not instructed properly. In making his ruling, however, Shah left intact the convictions on a number of other counts, including the lead count of conspiracy and charges alleging the defendants cooked ComEd's books to hide the scheme. Adding to the complexity was that four of the five counts that were left standing involve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Last month, President Donald Trump ordered a review of how the Justice Department enforces that law, which he said has been 'stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States.' In the ComEd Four case, the four defendants were convicted for falsifying books and records, not any bribery of foreign officials that the law originally sought to punish, the defense pointed out in asking Shah last month to stay the proceedings. Madigan, meanwhile, once the most powerful politician in the state, was found guilty on Feb. 12 of bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. But neither prosecutors nor Madigan could declare total victory in that case either. Jurors' final verdict was overall mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to McClain, who was charged in both the Madigan and ComEd Four indictments. jmeisner@
Chicago Tribune
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
DOJ reviewing ‘ComEd Four' bribery case, defense reveals in asking for sentencing delay
The Department of Justice is reviewing the convictions in the landmark 'ComEd Four' bribery case involving former House Speaker Michael Madigan on counts involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which the Trump administration says has been stretched beyond its intended reach. The revelation, which further threatens to unwind what had been a slam-dunk victory for the U.S. attorney's office, came during a status hearing in the ComEd case on Thursday, where prosecutors asked to proceed to sentencing on the counts that U.S. District Judge Manish Shah left standing. Defense attorneys strongly objected, saying they received a letter recently from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's office saying the case was under review by the Department of Justice, which would make a decision whether the false statements counts charged under the FCPA should be dropped. The defense also said the Supreme Court's ruling last week in the case of former Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson gives them further ammunition to argue that the false statements counts should not stand. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, however, said they have no timetable on when the attorney general might weigh in and have 'received no guidance' on what the decision might be. 'We will follow whatever guidance we get,' she said. Streicker also said there was no basis to delay sentencing any further in this case, including over the issue of Thompson's case, which she said involves a different statute and has no bearing on the ComEd verdict. 'The defendants have had more than a full opportunity over the past two years to make post trial motions…It is now time for sentencing,' Streicker said. There is no basis to just delay sentencing based upon a hope that something might turn the defendant's way.' Shah agreed, saying he was satisfied that a proceeding to sentencing would finally bring the prosecution to a close and leave it in the hands of appellate courts. He said he wanted to sentence the four defendants separately sometime in July and asked the parties to consult their schedules and get back to him. Before the hearing adjourned, however, attorney Patrick Cotter, who represents longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, appeared to grow agitated, telling the judge that the defendants could find themselves sentenced on charges just before the Department of Justice rules should never have been brought in the first place. 'It seems to me, to be quite frank, reckless to proceed with sentencing,' Cotter said. 'It does affect the position of the defendants …I would ask you to consider waiting until we get a response.' But Shah denied the request without further argument. 'I don't agree it is reckless,' he said, adding that if something changes, he 'sure you'll tell me.' 'You have your lines of communication with the Department of Justice and I'm not doing anything to interfere with that,' Shah said. 'My view is that it's more important to proceed to conclusion than wait on uncertain and amorphous deliberations happening' in Washington. The ComEd Four defendants — McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; internal ComEd lobbyist John Hooker; and consultant Jay Doherty — were convicted in May 2023 in an alleged scheme by the utility to funnel payments to Madigan-favored contractors in exchange for the longtime Democratic speaker's influence over legislation in Springfield. Earlier this month, Shah granted a new trial on some counts, saying the Supreme Court's ruling last year on a key bribery statute means the jury was not instructed properly. In making his ruling, however, Shah left intact the convictions on a number of other counts, including the lead count of conspiracy and charges alleging the defendants cooked ComEd's books to hide the scheme. Adding to the complexity was that four of the five counts that were left standing involve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Last month, President Donald Trump ordered a review of how the Justice Department enforces that law, which he said has been 'stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States.' In the ComEd Four case, the four defendants were convicted for falsifying books and records, not any bribery of foreign officials that the law originally sought to punish, the defense pointed out in asking Shah last month to stay the proceedings. Madigan, meanwhile, once the most powerful politician in the state, was found guilty on Feb. 12 of bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. But neither prosecutors nor Madigan could declare total victory in that case either. Jurors' final verdict was overall mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to McClain, who was charged in both the Madigan and ComEd Four indictments.
CBC
24-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Yukon secures funding for Whitehorse convention centre in the 11th hour before election call
Social Sharing A delegation that included Yukon MP Brendan Hanley and Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai flew to Ottawa late Thursday night to secure funding for a new convention centre in Whitehorse. Around 48 hours before Prime Minister Mark Carney officially kicked off a federal election, the delegation secured his approval on a $56.25 million funding deal with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency to build the facility. "We're tired," Pillai told a crowd of officials, media and stakeholders on Saturday. "This came down to the very end to get this in place." The project, which is being called the Yukon Gathering Place is expected to cost around $75 million in total. The facility is projected to span 9,500 square metres and have the capacity to accommodate up to 750 guests for seated banquets or 1,000 people in a theatre setting. Hanley said the project is a key economic development piece for the Yukon's tourism industry. "I've heard over and over again how many national meetings, conferences, events are dying to come here, but can't, because of the lack of meeting space," he said. The facility will be built just north of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on First Nations settlement land. Chu Níikwän, the First Nation's development corporation, is leading the project's design and construction. "We're looking at building a sustainability economy," said Kwanlin Dün Chief Sean Smith. "Tourism is a priority for us as a community, but also looking at ways we can continue to build connections and opportunities.… This [facility] will bring people together from all parts of Canada and the world." A red-eye flight to secure the deal In a March 19 social media post, Canyon City Construction said the convention centre project had been "postponed due to lack of funding." The next day in the legislature, Porter Creek MLA Geraldine Van Bibber grilled John Streicker, the minister responsible for tourism, about that post and the project's status. "Can the minister explain what this means for the project?" she asked In response, Streicker said the territorial government was working to secure federal funding. "On the initial RFP … the Yukon government seemed to give the impression that there was funding secured for this project," Van Bibber pressed. "Many companies spent a lot of money and put a lot of time and effort into the bids because…. They assumed that the government had some assurances of funding. Can the minister tell us whether or not the federal government ever actually committed to this project?" Streicker reiterated that the facility is a top priority. "We just got the numbers recently – tourism total spending in the Yukon is up 45 per cent over 2019," he said. "We know that a convention centre is the next step for us as a territory." A Yukon contingent got on a red-eye just hours later "to get that last signature, which was the prime minister's signature," explained Pillai. "Because this is a really significant amount of money." Back in 2024, the completion date for the Yukon Gathering Place was expected to be in 2027. When asked if that timeline was still realistic, Pillai said supply chain challenges could create additional difficulties during the construction process, but the goal is that it'll be a three-year project. Once the facility is ready, officials anticipate a surge of visitors to the territory. "We're going to be in a position to see a tremendous amount of Canadians and international guests come here and spend time and money in our communities," he said.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Veteran of Burke, Madigan trials to lead US attorney's office Public Corruption section
A veteran prosecutor who played a key role in the recent trials of ex-Ald. Edward Burke and former House Speaker Michael Madigan will be the next head of the U.S. attorney's office's Public Corruption and Organized Crime Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker has been named as the replacement of Amarjeet Bhachu, who is leaving the U.S. attorney's office on Friday after a 21-year career there. The public corruption section is one of the most storied and critical in the office, responsible for bringing high-profile cases over the years that decimated the leadership of the Chicago Outfit and sent a seemingly endless parade of elected officials to prison, from aldermen and county commissioners to former Govs. George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich. Streicker, 45, joined the office in 2009 and was one of the lead prosecutors in the 2011 trial of Tahawwur Rana, a Chicago businessman accused of helping Pakistani-American David Headley plot the deadly 2008 terror attack on a hotel in Mumbai. In 2023, Streicker was a member of the Burke prosecution team and delivered a memorable rebuttal argument telling jurors that the alderman's words caught on tape — statements like 'The cash register has not rung yet,' 'They can go (expletive) themselves,' and 'Did we land the tuna?' — provided the best avenue into his mind. 'What's the best evidence of Burke's intent? The words that came out of his mouth,' Streicker said. 'And those words were captured on recordings.' Last year, Streicker was the first lawyer to address the jury in Madigan's own landmark trial, beginning her two-hour opening statement by saying the case, which also included Madigan's longtime confidant and co-defendant, Michael McClain, was about 'corruption at the highest levels of state government.' 'Madigan abused his power and used the organization he led to engage in a pattern of corrupt conduct over and over and over again,' Streicker told jurors. 'Together the defendants engaged in a campaign of bribery …through which they seized opportunities to leverage Madigan's immense power in Illinois government to seek and accept bribes from people who needed something from the government. This racket went on for years.' The Public Corruption section has been headed by Bhachu since 2018. jmeisner@
