Construction magnate Tony Accurso steadfastly defended himself against suspicions of attempting to encourage land rezoning in Terrebonne and of making deals with the local underworld, as hearings continued at the Charbonneau Commission Monday.
Prosecutor Sonia LeBel grilled Accurso on his discussions with longtime reputed Montreal Mafia godfather Vito Rizzuto but Accurso, clearly irritated, insisted that there no deals were ever struck between the two.
LeBel zeroed in on a discussion between Accurso and Rizzuto concerning bids for a government contract to build the Acadie roundabout.
Accurso said that he simply told Rizzuto that he had every intention to bid on and win the contract, regardless of the implication that Rizzuto would have liked Lino Zambito to do the job.
“We’re bidding,” Accurso said that he told Rizzuto. “It’s the hardest job the Quebec Transportation Ministry ever did in Montreal. It’s our specialty. I like complicated jobs. We have the organization that can do it.”
Accurso said that Rizzuto and his son Nick occasionally discussed hiring him for possible construction projects but that no deals were ever struck, for a variety of reasons.
“Will I be paid? Will there be work conflicts? Can those be resolved? There was too much that led me to lose interest. Every time I had a chance to work for Vito Rizzuto or his son Nick, we were too expensive, or the project wasn’t working, there was always a reason, quite diplomatically, to say that we can’t do that contract and we didn’t do it,” Accurso said.
Accurso said that he had no knowledge of a historic alliance made at a meeting between Rizzuto and former Hells Angels chief Mom Boucher at his Onyx restaurant in June 2000.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of such a meeting in my restaurant,” said Accurso.
Accurso said he didn't want to do business with the Rizzutos and always found ways to turn the family down diplomatically, adding that he went to a meeting with Raynald Desjardins, but only as a courtesy. Desjardins is now charged with the murder of Mafia figure Salvatore Montagna.
Earlier in the proceedings LeBel asked Accurso whether he hosted Terrebonne Mayor Jean-Marc Robitaille on his yacht as a means to persuade him to rezone agricultural land that could lead to a $120 million profit for Accurso.
“My boat was used like a chalet. It was for friends and friends of friends. There was no discussion of that,” said Accurso.
Charbonneau argued the point.
“I ask you to answer the questions without adding your opinion,” she said.
Accurso at times seemed to be in a staring contest with Charbonneau
He flatly denied he or any of his executives ever took any kickbacks.
“I've never paid one and no one's ever asked me for one,” he said.
The controversial construction boss was then dismissed, able to walk away from the Charbonneau Commission.
