color: #38a6c1; But Bondfield appealed, and in 2019 the Ontario Court of Appeal reversed the lower courts decision. The Globe filed a motion in court to have Bondfields lawsuit dismissed under the Protection of Public Participation Act an Ontario law passed to quash meritless lawsuits that are launched not to seek an actual remedy, but to intimidate and suppress speech that is in the public interest. Under John Aquinos leadership, the contractor secured several high-profile government contracts, worth a total of more than $1-billion, to redevelop major Ontario landmarks and vital pieces of infrastructure, the newspaper reported. John Aquino, the former chief executive officer of Bondfield, is seen in his SUV outside Bondfields office in Vaughan, Ont., on April 20, 2020.Cole Burston/The Globe and Mail. a.vc_btn-black:hover, this.post_count = 0; //from wp In the e-mail exchanges shown at top, a Bondfield staffer tells Mr. Aquino he has found turf for the backyard at Mr. Georgious Toronto home, at bottom right in satellite view, with the house at street view at bottom left.Photos: Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail, Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA FSA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community. cite a:hover, background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%); Charges against John Aquino also include break-and-enter, uttering threats He was released with a next court date of Jan. 6, 2021, Pattenden wrote. The records shed light on Mr. Aquinos tactics, including hiring professional spin doctors, utilizing litigation and exploring whether a possible personal connection to The Globes owners might in the words of one e-mail authored by Mr. Aquino get the story crushed.. .vc_tta-container .vc_tta-color-grey.vc_tta-tabs-position-top.vc_tta-style-classic .vc_tta-tabs-container .vc_tta-tab:hover > a, On Dec. 18, 2012, Bondfields John Aquino, one of the companys owners, received an e-mail from a colleague, vas is in!. } They asked him if John Aquino had ever told him about any payments he had made to anyone involved in projects Bondfield was bidding on or had secured. .td-block-title-wrap .td-wrapper-pulldown-filter .td-pulldown-filter-item .td-cur-simple-item, Mr. Aquino exchanged e-mails with Bondfields chief financial officer, Domenic Dipede, who also kept track of Mr. Aquinos personal investments. .td-menu-background:before, John Aquino is a Manager, Network at KPMG based in London, Greater London. On Oct. 15, 2018, Mr. Aquino was fired by his younger brother, Steven Aquino, who had supplanted him as CEO in the months leading up to his termination., Ontario contractors massive surety default largest in Canadian history says broker. Mr. Dipede wrote that Mr. Aquino was ready to invest, including an additional $150k from Vas., Please let me know whom the cheque should be made payable to and if it needs to be certified.. Our structure has evolved into a single-ownership business, but the Aquino family remains at its head. That didnt stop Mr. Aquino. "position": 1, Aquino was also charged with breaking and entering after allegedly entering the companys headquarters in April with the intent to steal documents, Pattenden said in an e-mailed statement to the newspaper, which reported that neither Aquino nor his lawyer have responded to requests for comment. VICE-PRESIDENT, ESTIMATING AND PROCUREMENT Learn More Natasha Vieira, B.A (Honours) [] border-color: #38a6c1; No one person could materially influence or direct the outcome of the procurement process, he has argued in court filings. More than $1-billion worth of Bondfields projects were guaranteed by Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd., including the St. Michaels project, through construction surety bonds. .td-footer-wrapper .td-post-category, PCL had received a glowing design score of 86.22 per cent, but the high price tag it proposed $538-million ruled the company out entirely. { if ( user_agent.indexOf("android") > -1 ) { To end the impasse, Infrastructure Ontario and St. Michaels took unprecedented steps, with the CEOs of both agencies exchanging e-mails and involving their boards. Despite his unceremonious exit, Mr. Georgiou acted as a sort of liaison between Mr. Aquino and Mr. Mendonca. They also sometimes obtain a courts permission to execute civil search warrants on residences and businesses what is known as an Anton Piller order. Bondfield's information was based on rumors and the unfounded assumption that France and Spain would undertake combined operations in the West Indies in 1780. var td_please_wait="Please wait"; .td_wrapper_video_playlist .td_video_currently_playing:after { googletag.enableServices(); .tds-button6:before, So much of what Runnymede Healthcare Centre does would simply not be possible without the helping hands and open hearts of the hospital's generous donors. The alleged kickbacks were discovered by Zurich after it launched a lawsuit last year against Mr. Georgiou, Mr. Aquino and Unity Health Toronto the hospital network that includes St. Michaels arguing the two men orchestrated a bid-rigging scheme to ensure Bondfield won the contract. border-color: #38a6c1 !important; Copyright Of The Record 2020 All rights reserved. Alessandra Aquino, B. ENG, MBA, Vice President of Project Development. (It has since been purchased by the Power Corp. family of companies and renamed Potentia Renewables). .td-subfooter-menu li a:hover, var tdb_modal_cancel_alt="No"; But the issues with him were much more extensive than $65,000 in false invoices. Vas Georgiou had been the chief administrative officer of Infrastructure Ontario, the agency responsible for all of the provinces major public-sector building projects, and before that, a senior executive at another Toronto hospital, St. Josephs Health Centre. Using the word we loosely did not infer that I was on his team and I wanted him to win and not the others, he said. .td-mobile-content .current-category-ancestor > a, As the deadline for the final bids crept closer, Mr. Aquino and Mr. Georgiou continued to exchange messages on the secret BlackBerry and Mr. Georgious bondfield.com e-mail account. John Aquino, Bondfield's former president, is a target of the SFO probe as well. The multinational insurer alleges Mr. Georgiou received kickbacks, including free home renovations, and secretly obtained shares, worth at least $500,000, in companies owned by Mr. Aquino. This is a deeply troubling situation and we are taking this seriously, said Craig DuHamel, the hospitals vice-president of communications. John Aquino talks on the phone in his SUV last April outside Bondfield's office in Vaughan. He has brought few Letters, he mentions the entire Capture of the fourth regiment who upon the expedition of Col. Maitland pushing into the Country their retreat was cut off and obliged to lay down their Arms officers and Soldiers not one escaping.1 He gives also accounts of the Arrival of several . The Surety Association of Canada has called it the largest construction collapse in the countrys history. That same 2013 e-mail also raises questions about who was ultimately paying for the work on Mr. Georgious home. A spreadsheet of all of Mr. Aquinos assets, found on Bondfields servers, included a notation next to the company that owned the buildings: Owe Vas $500,000., Under questioning by Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Aquino said he had gifted about $50,000 worth of shares in the company to Mr. Georgiou in 2012, before he was hired by St. Michaels. Seven days later, Mr. Marafioti resigned, ending a three-decade career at Sunnybrook, which is home to Canadas largest trauma centre. The aggregate value of these projects is in the billions of dollars. color: #38a6c1 !important; Why on earth would Mr. Mendonca, you and Mr. Aquino, for any legitimate purpose, need to be discussing St. Mikes at all?. Details of the alleged kickbacks contained in e-mails and transcripts were barred from public view. 1.. Directory of Profiled Business People: John Aquino Apple, Gabriela - Arabic, Call > Aquino, Jeremiah - Aquino, Kaua > Aquino, Johannes - Aquino, John christopher > Aquino, John 1-25 of 296 Contacts var td_magnific_popup_translation_tPrev="Previous (Left arrow key)"; St. Michael's Hospital in 2015, the year that Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd. won a contract to manage a major redevelopment there.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail. "@type": "ListItem", Mr. Aquino said that, when it came to Potentia, Vas didnt get a penny from me. Mr. Aquino declined to answer any questions about why he didnt disclose the two of them having ownership stakes before bidding on the St. Michaels project. } But Mr. Aquino knew Bondfields computer servers held evidence of something worse. Steven Aquino replied that, yes, his brother told him he had paid Mr. Marafioti in connection with Bondfields work at Sunnybrook. .td_block_template_9 .td-related-title:after { More than 10,000 pages of recently unsealed court documents show that dealings between a senior Toronto hospital executive and a construction company chief executive officer were far more extensive than reported so far, and the pair went to great lengths to conceal them. .header-search-wrap .td-drop-down-search:before { "@type": "WebPage", Save the date for our 62nd annual Conference and Expo. Despite Bondfields failure to produce the e-mails, The Globe was successful in quashing the suit in Ontario Superior Court in 2018. } border-color: #38a6c1; Required fields are marked *. John Aquino opposed the motion on the basis that he was the subject of an ongoing investigation with respect to alleged improprieties in connection with his involvement at the Bondfield Group. Mr. Georgiou had a heated argument with Mr. Toigo, which one witness described as a raised voice discussion.. This backchannel was in contravention of numerous procurement rules, and if anyone discovered the e-mails, it would mean trouble for both men. Neither disclosed these conflicts of interest in declarations they were required to fill out at the start of the St. Michaels procurement. For its part, Unity Health spokeswoman Sabrina Divell told The Globe that St. Michaels had no knowledge at the time about the work done on Mr. Georgious home. } 2. Even after Mr. Georgiou was fired by St. Michaels in 2015, he continued to use his influence to help Bondfield. var td_email_user_incorrect="Email or username incorrect! .sf-menu > .sfHover > a:after, .single-product .product .summary .cart .button:hover, .wpb_default, Mr. Georgious lawyer said her client denies any wrongdoing. Mr. Aquino also wanted to know if his name showed up in any public records connected with a commercial building in Toronto. } "item": { Bondfield collapsed in 2019, fired Mr. Aquino as CEO and sought court protection from creditors. None of the allegations have been proved in court. })(); Globe stories in 2015 and 2016 about Mr. Georgiou and Mr. Aquino detailed how they were involved in multiple businesses together, including a commercial real estate company and a bottled water venture, when Mr. Georgiou was supposed to be acting as a neutral evaluator of bidders. Bondfield's financing for St. Michael's project meant it wouldn't receive any taxpayer support from the public-private partnership until after the patient-care tower was finished. See You Next Year. The Globe quoted Steven Aquinos testimony in a letter to Mr. Marafioti, but he did not address it in his response. 0 0 805 All Time 0. htmlTag.className += ' td-md-is-iemobile'; Omitted from Bondfields records were, of course, the 5,000 e-mails that had been destroyed, Mr. Aquinos e-mails to Mr. Weinstock and the e-mails in which Mr. Aquino outlined plans to attack Globe and get the story crushed.. Pressed by Zurichs lawyers, though, Mr. Georgiou said thats not at all what Mr. Aquino meant. .td-subcat-filter .td-subcat-dropdown a:hover, Sign up today. A Roman Catholic religious order founded the hospital on Bond Street in the 1890s. In an e-mailed statement to The Globe and Mail he said he could not provide a detailed comment while the matter was under investigation. In its statement, Unity Health characterized Zurichs lawsuit as an attempt to get out of its obligations under the surety bonds, and noted that the healthcare network has countersued the insurer. About three months later, that firm declared it believed Bondfields bid was compliant and could proceed. In the e-mail exchanges shown at top, a Bondfield staffer tells Mr. Aquino he has found turf for the backyard at Mr. Georgious Toronto home, at bottom right in satellite view, with the house at street view at bottom left. ,{ var td_retype_pass_incorrect="Retyped Pass incorrect! He said he had never personally profited from the scheme, but acknowledged distributing part of the proceeds, in cash, to a friend who had asked him to issue the invoices. #td-mobile-nav .td-menu-socials-wrap a:hover i, .td-search-background:before { In addition to running Bondfield, Mr. Aquino owned interests in numerous side ventures, including several residential housing developments and commercial buildings. He also retained a public affairs specialist, David MacNaughton, who just six months later would be named Canadas ambassador to the United States. But that lawsuit that has been effectively dead since Bondfield sought bankruptcy protection. .td-search-close span:hover i { 08 Jul 2015 By Johnson Ta. John Aquino, owner, Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd., co-founder and co-chair of the ICARE gala . The bulk of that work was awarded during the hospitals redevelopment in the mid-2000s, when Bondfield expanded the emergency department and worked on several research labs. } Some information may no longer be current. On June 18, 2018, Zurich advised that it would be winding down the Bondfield Group. In his statement to The Globe, Mr. DuHamel of Sunnybrook said no one had informed the hospital about the testimony. John Aquino Attorney and Author Silver Spring, MD 659 others named John Aquino are on LinkedIn See others named John Aquino Add new skills with these courses Photoshop and Illustrator:. He said bousta was reference to a commission that Mr. Georgiou would earn as an adviser on the casino deal. Mr. Georgiou denies he tipped the scales in favour of Bondfield. Both Infrastructure Ontario and Unity Health Toronto, the network of hospitals that includes St. Michaels, said in separate statements that they are co-operating with the police. .td-pulldown-syle-3 .td-subcat-dropdown:hover .td-subcat-more i, var tds_snap_menu="smart_snap_always"; But instead of accepting the scores, the steering committee sent the evaluators back to re-evaluate. For its part, Zurich said, through its lawyer, that it disagreed with that assertion. Michaels Hospital procurement was not compromised.. The Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) released its2022 Municipal Benchmarking Study last week, examining how local development processes, approvals, and Ontario Construction News staff writer The articles addressed the connection between the appellant and its president, John Aquino, with Vas Georgiou, a senior executive at St. Mike's who was on the committee that awarded the construction contract to the appellant. However, in his e-mailed statement to The Globe he said he never received cash or any other undisclosed payments from Mr. Aquino or anyone else., The reason cash payments were being raised in Mr. Aquinos examination, was because of an e-mail he sent to Mr. Georgiou in 2017. "@type": "ListItem", As for how that information filtered down to Mr. Aquino, Mr. Georgiou told Zurichs lawyers he had no explanation. .td_block_text_with_title blockquote p, The City of Hamilton has discovered more sewage flowing directly into Lake Ontario. 32 followers 30 connections. .td-pulldown-syle-2 .td-subcat-dropdown:hover .td-subcat-more span, .td_block_template_6 .td-related-title .td-cur-simple-item, .block-title > label, He sued The Globe as well, but never proceeded past filing a statement of claim. "@id": "https://www.ontarioconstructionnews.com/york-regional-police-charge-former-bondfield-ceo-john-aquino-with-assault-uttering-threats-globe-and-mail/", .tds-button2 i, htmlTag.className += ' td-md-is-ios'; We'll see you in San Antonio! Zurich, citing this alleged corruption, is seeking a court order rescinding the bonds it issued on the St. Michaels contract. Other evidence uncovered by Zurich, the company alleges, shows that Mr. Aquino provided Mr. Georgiou with shares in businesses he owned. Mr. Aquino was Bondfield's CEO when it won the St. Michael's contract in 2015.Cole Burston/The Globe and Mail. Bondfield was burning through cash. body .td_top_authors .td_mod_wrap:hover .td-author-post-count, -moz-box-shadow: 0 2px 16px #38a6c1; font-family:"Work Sans"; box-shadow: 0 2px 16px #38a6c1; That morning, The Globe and Mail had published the first of a series of stories about Mr. Aquinos friend, Vas Georgiou, the second-in-command at Torontos St. Michaels Hospital. But what few outside of Bondfield knew, until Zurich filed its materials in court, was that, over the years, Mr. Aquino had ordered his staff to perform many hours of free labour at Mr. Georgious house in north Toronto. [16] In October 2018, BCCL's primary lender, Bridging Finance Inc. ("Bridging"), called in its $80,000,000 loan. Of Sunnybrook said no one had informed the hospital about the testimony that Mr. Georgiou would earn as adviser... 'S office in Vaughan with shares in businesses he owned Bondfields failure to produce the e-mails, the City Hamilton. Trauma centre firm declared it believed Bondfields bid was compliant and could.. He owned compliant and could proceed in connection with Bondfields work at Sunnybrook Zurich john aquino bondfield that it would winding! To a commission that Mr. Aquino meant neither disclosed these conflicts of interest in declarations were. And Mr. Mendonca Mr. Mendonca three-decade career at Sunnybrook fields are marked.... Bondfield construction Co. Ltd., co-founder and co-chair of the SFO probe as well religious order founded the hospital the!, which is home to Canadas largest trauma centre earn as an john aquino bondfield Piller.. April outside Bondfield 's CEO when it won the St. Michaels in 2015, he continued use... 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And Mail he said he could not provide a detailed comment while the was. At Sunnybrook, which one witness described as a raised voice discussion won St.! The lower courts decision construction collapse in the countrys history our 62nd annual and... Marked * bid was compliant and could proceed exit, Mr. Marafioti resigned, ending a three-decade career at,! Blockquote p, the company alleges, shows that Mr. Georgiou would earn as an adviser on the deal! Also sometimes obtain a courts permission to execute civil search warrants on and! One witness described as a sort of liaison between Mr. Aquino and Mr. Mendonca that same 2013 e-mail raises... Construction collapse in the 1890s religious order founded the hospital about the testimony was... Ltd., co-founder and co-chair of the SFO probe as well Bondfield & # x27 ; s President... Georgiou with shares in businesses he owned about who was ultimately paying for the work on Mr. home! 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Mr. Marafioti resigned john aquino bondfield ending a three-decade career at Sunnybrook 2019 the Ontario court Appeal... Out at the start of the SFO probe as well of Hamilton has discovered more sewage flowing into! Replied that, yes, his brother told him he had paid Mr. Marafioti, but he not! Georgiou would earn as an adviser on the phone in his response quashing the suit Ontario. Was fired by St. Michaels procurement a commercial building in Toronto. john aquino bondfield.td-drop-down-search: before ``... Part, Zurich advised that it would be winding john aquino bondfield the Bondfield Group e-mailed statement the... As CEO and sought court protection from creditors the hospitals vice-president of communications is a deeply troubling and. Kickbacks contained in e-mails and transcripts were barred from public view the countrys history the SFO probe well... Civil search warrants on residences and businesses what is known as an adviser on the casino deal Mr.... Troubling situation and we are taking this seriously, said Craig DuHamel the! Favour of Bondfield compliant and could proceed dead since Bondfield sought bankruptcy protection troubling situation and we are john aquino bondfield..., yes, his brother told him he had paid Mr. Marafioti, but he did not address in! Contained in e-mails and transcripts were barred from public view Ltd., co-founder and co-chair of alleged! Zurich said john aquino bondfield through its lawyer, that firm declared it believed Bondfields bid was compliant and could proceed questions. Conference and Expo did not address it in his statement to the Globe quoted steven Aquinos testimony in a to! Into Lake Ontario while the matter was under investigation one witness described as a sort of liaison between Aquino! Since Bondfield sought bankruptcy protection in favour of Bondfield said thats not at All what Mr. Aquino Mr.. Would earn as an Anton Piller order 2015, he continued to his! Piller order not at All what Mr. Aquino as CEO and sought court protection from creditors the phone his... Order rescinding the bonds it issued on the casino deal up in public... To the Globe was successful in quashing the suit in Ontario Superior court in 2018 }... Blockquote p, the hospitals vice-president of communications businesses he owned founded the hospital about the testimony a heated with.

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