On May 29, Marie Cossette, litigation partner at Lavery and head of the firm’s Corporate and business integrity team, was guest speaker at an event organized by the Barreau de Québec. Some 80 people came to hear her take stock of the aftermath of the December 2012 passing of Bill 1 (the Integrity Act) aiming to introduce anti-corruption measures governing contracting by public bodies.
After discussing the goal and scope of these measures, Ms. Cossette addressed the process of applying for authorization from the AMF and the challenges and issues legal advisors must deal with when guiding clients through this process. She also presented the penal provisions and amendments to the Act since its passage. She concluded her presentation with a summary of the impact of this new system on the fight against corruption and the pursuit of integrity.