2004 — The Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement Team is created by the BC Liberal government and the RCMP to investigate crimes surrounding illegal games, such as operating common-ground houses, conducting illegal lotteries, illegal Internet gaming and other forms of illegal gaming.
January 2009 — A report from the team warns that BC casinos are “extremely vulnerable” to money laundering. It also asks for an expanded role and describes how organized crime networks such as the Hells Angels have succeeded in infiltrating gaming operations.
April 2009 — The Liberal government shuts down the Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement Team, citing lack of funding and claiming it wasn’t effective.
November 2012 — A document, prepared by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (the province’s gambling watchdog), warned “suspicious cash” is “increasing at an alarming rate.” in BC casinos.
April 2016 — BC’s provincial health officer declares a public health emergency in response to the rise in drug overdoses and deaths.
August 2016 — Documents show the government’s Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch observed so-called “high roller” patrons at a Metro Vancouver casino for a year starting in January 2015 and concluded people connected to real estate were the top buy-in gamblers.
September 2017 — Attorney General David Eby appoints former Mountie Peter German to conduct a review of money laundering in BC casinos.
February 2018 — The Globe and Mail reveals how money laundering has contributed to the opioid and housing crises.
June 2018 — German releases the government-commissioned report, Dirty Money, which concluded more than $100 million from organized crime was being laundered through Lower Mainland casinos.
June 2018 — Vancouver is named the most expensive city in Canada, tied with Toronto, according to Mercer’s annual Cost of Living Survey, which determines its ranks based on the instability of housing markets, low inflation and fluctuating prices for goods and services.
July 2018 — A report issued by the Paris-based Financial Action, a body of G7 member countries fighting money laundering and terrorist financing, claimed more than $1 billion annual was been laundered through an underground bank in BC.
July 2018 — A week in July was the deadliest week on record for overdose deaths in the province. Between July 23 to 29, 11 people died of drug overdoses in Vancouver.
February 2019 — A W5 investigation thrusts money laundering BC into the spotlight again.
February 2019 — Cities such as Vancouver and Richmond, as well as Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West and the British Columbia Government Employees Union join the chorus of voices calling for a public inquiry.
February 2019 — BC Green MLAs question the current NDP government throughout Question Period about money laundering in BC, its connection to the housing and opioid crisis and what is being done to get British Columbians they answers they deserve.
February 2019 — The BC Green Caucus launches a petition, demanding the government launch a public inquiry into money laundering in the province.