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International gangs launder money through Canada’s fishing industry, reports suggest

Reposted by Zak Vescera

Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 1d

Find out more from our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.

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Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · 5d

Money laundering. Through fish. It's real.

We got ahold of internal reports from Canada's financial intelligence agency suggesting transnational gangs may be washing dirty cash through fisheries -- including via government-issued licenses

theijf.org/fisheries-mo...

Criminals may be cleaning cash through government-issued licenses on the west coast

B.C. government, unions call for more foreign worker program inspections

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · 7d

An NDP MP said he and his staff personally helped a group of temporary foreign workers in his constituency because the federal government wouldn't. He's among those calling for tougher inspections + overhauls to the system

theijf.org/b-c-governme...

IJF investigation found most federal inspections don’t involve a worksite visit

Most temporary foreign worker program inspections don’t include in-person visits, data reveal

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · 14d

Also: The number of workers in this program has doubled since 2020. But the government is actually scrutizing fewer and fewer worksites, despite internal warnings that they should scale up random inspections #canpoli #bcpoli

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · 14d

Scoop: Federal workers do not actually visit most of the worksites they say they inspect under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Most employers only face a "paper-based" inspection done remotely. Advocates say this leaves abuse, fraud unaddressed

theijf.org/tfw-inspecti...

Advocates say IJF findings raise troubling questions about oversight in the controversial program

A Vancouver-based crypto exchange — Cryptomus — traded millions of dollars with a sanctioned Russian platform according to analysts. And that platform has been linked to cybercriminals. Find out more ...

Reposted by Zak Vescera

Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · Sep 15

Our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social tells you what he found.

www.tiktok.com/@theijf.org/...

TikTok video by IJF

www.tiktok.com

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Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 15

A Vancouver crypto exchange has traded tens of millions of dollars with a Russian platform favoured by cybercriminals and people looking to evade sanctions

On the mystery of Cryptomus -- which is still registered with Canada's anti-sanctions watchdog

theijf.org/cryptomus-tr...

Vancouver crypto exchange traded millions with sanctioned Russian platform, analysts say

Cryptomus allegedly traded extensively with platform used by prolific hacking groups

Reposted by Zak Vescera

Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · Sep 9

Exclusive: Ottawa considered monetary penalties and “binding legislation” to lower grocery prices. They even considered making “egregious behaviours that harm the food supply chain” illegal. Our reporters got a hold of government documents detailing the plans.

#cdnpoli #canada

buff.ly/OZHCGMv

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Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 9

Some other grocers, asked to stabilize soaring food prices, asked the government for favours -- including increasing work hours for international students and easing labelling requirements on food.

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 9

This is a story from me and @maeveellis.bsky.social with some fascinating behind the scenes at negotiations between big retailers and the federal government.

At one point, when asked to highlight his company's work on affordability, Galen Weston of Loblaw sent a minister coupons

Ottawa considered monetary penalties and ‘binding legislation’ to lower grocery prices

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 9

The Canadian government was preparing "binding legislation" to force grocery giants to adopt rules meant to stabilize food prices. That included making “egregious behaviours that harm the food supply chain” illegal and subject to fines. The legislation was never passed

theijf.org/grocery-code...

A behind the scenes look at Canada’s response to 2023’s rising grocery prices

Canada’s vape industry worth billions and growing

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Reposted by Zak Vescera

Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · Sep 5

Our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social tells you more about what he found.

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Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 5

A study commissioned by the federal government found Canada's vape industry (yes, a real thing) is worth billions and is projected to grow even bigger in spite of new regulations and taxes

theijf.org/canadas-vape...

A report for Health Canada found that the vape market is expected to keep growing, despite federal and provincial regulations to limit use

B.C. premier wants temporary foreign worker program cancelled or reformed | CBC News

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 5

The report also notes that BC and AB, in particular, were regions with “high prevalence of misuse." BC's premier this week called for the program to be abolished or reformed

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

In a rare show of unity, Premier David Eby and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre have both called for Canada's temporary foreign worker program to be cancelled, saying it's to blame for hig...

www.cbc.ca

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 5

A Deloitte report commissioned by the federal government last year urged it to expand oversight of the temporary foreign worker program. The report, never released, warned some employers were exploiting workers on the program by threatening their visas

theijf.org/deloitte-rep...

Deloitte report urged feds to increase oversight of temporary foreign worker program

Report urged the Canadian government to take steps to prevent employers from abusing federal programs that let them hire temporary foreign workers

Canada says crackdown on visa fraud reducing illegal border crossings

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Sep 5

Donald Trump cited illegal border crossings from Canada as one of his reasons for imposing tariffs.

And it was true that illegal crossings had spiked -- but now, they've plummeted. Canadian officials say that's thanks to a crackdown on visa fraud north of the border

theijf.org/canada-us-bo...

Illegal crossings plummet as both countries tighten immigration systems

BCers Bet Billions On Unregulated Gambling Sites | The Tyee

Reposted by Zak Vescera

The Tyee @thetyee.ca · Aug 11

A never-released government report says British Columbians may be gambling billions on unregulated online gambling sites, costing the province tens of millions of dollars in potential tax revenue. @zakvescera.bsky.social reports.

A buried government report shows the province is losing out on revenue. Organized crime may benefit.

thetyee.ca

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Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Aug 7

I obtained a never-released report that estimated BC residents are wagering billions on offshore gambling websites that the province calls illegal. The gov now estimates these sites are making gross revenues of $400 million a year in B.C.

theijf.org/bc-residents...

B.C. residents betting billions on unregulated gambling sites, 2021 report found

Province tried to prevent release of report with details about reach of offshore betting sites

CSIS warned Trump assassination attempt would ‘embolden’ threats to Canadian politicians

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Aug 7

Some recently released privy council data also show threats (including death threats) against federal cabinet members became way, way more common between 2019 and 2024.

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Aug 7

Tiny scoop: CSIS warned the attempted assassination of Donald Trump would "embolden" threats against Canadian politicians, though they deemed an actual "inspired attack" was unlikely

theijf.org/csis-warned-...

Federal data show threats against Canadian parliamentarians have risen sharply in recent years

Weekend Morning – BC Energy Regulator investigation by the IJF-Narhwal

Reposted by Zak Vescera

Nora Loreto @nolore.bsky.social · Jul 28

This past weekend, the Daily News podcast passed the mic to an indy journalist to talk about a story they recently published.

On Saturday, we featured @zakvescera.bsky.social and his co-investigation with @thenarwhal.ca into BC's Energy Regulator. Listen here!

sandyandnora.com/weekend-morn...

Zak Vescera with the Independent Journalism Foundation shares his investigation into the BC Energy Regulator. Original reporting here: https://theijf.org/cnrl-broke-deal-bcer

sandyandnora.com

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Reposted by Zak Vescera

Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · Jul 29

Check out IJF reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social on The Daily News talking about his investigation into B.C.'s energy regulator. 🎙️ ⬇️

shows.acast.com/the-daily-ne...

BC Energy Regulator investigation by the IJF-Narwhal | The Daily News

The Daily News does weekends!

shows.acast.com

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Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Jul 9

BC securities regulators are investigating a company that used to operate a network of Ontario ketamine clinics and researched therapeutic applications of magic mushrooms. The firm was accused of misleading investors in an unrelated lawsuit, since settled

theijf.org/bcsc-champig...

BC securities regulators investigating former ketamine clinic operator

Braxia Scientific Corp. had plans to explore the health benefits of magic mushrooms

Oil giant broke deal to deactivate thousands of pipelines and faced no penalty, documents reveal

Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · Jul 7

A major Canadian gas company broke a deal it pitched to BC's energy regulator to clean up thousands of pipelines in the province. But it faced no penalty and the regulator later renewed a special exemption for the company. Our latest with the great team at @thenarwhal.ca

theijf.org/cnrl-broke-d...

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. promised to deactivate thousands of inactive pipelines under a special deal with B.C.’s energy regulator. Internal emails show the company failed to meet its targets.