Opening the Pandora Papers and what they reveal

Guests: Robert Cribb & Marco Chown Oved, investigative reporters at the Star

In what is being called the largest collaborative journalism project in history, hundreds of journalists around the world have released their findings from The Pandora Papers, which detail the financial details of how the ultra-rich move and hide money around the world in tax havens and through other mechanisms. The findings include some well-known world leaders as well as other wealthy and famous people. There were several revelations about prominent Canadians, and by shining a light on these dealings it opens up questions about what can and should be done about it.

NOTE: The following people are discussed in this episode and, when reached for comment, provided these statements.

• David Tassillo’s wrote a statement saying the offshore structure the Star “was the first and only I have ever set up on behalf of MindGeek, and the transactions and structure were entirely appropriate.”
• Elvis Stojko told Pandora Papers partner the CBC he did this on advice of his longtime lawyer and he was that the trust was closed in 2012.
• Lawrence Stroll’s personal financial adviser, Jonathan Dudman, responded to the Star saying Superwit Profits was a “small business” originated by Stroll’s friend Tang in 1998.
• The King’s of Jordan’s lawyers, in written correspondence, said there is nothing improper in the king’s ownership of properties through offshore companies and that he has not misused public money or aid.