Les Montréalais se consoleront peut-être en sachant que cet article intitulé «The Sopranos of Montreal» n'a été publié que dans une section un peu obscure du site internet du New York Times. Il s'agit d'un compte rendu des travaux de la commission Charbonneau, qui fait référence à la célèbre émission de HBO sur un clan mafieux du New Jersey. J'en cite deux extraits dans le texte :
According to Transparency International, Canada is tied with the Netherlands as the 9th least corrupt country on earth and ranks easily as the least corrupt in the Americas. But here in Montreal, that squeaky clean image has long been stained by murmurs about the construction contracts coming out of city hall. (...)
There is a supremely Sopranoesque moment. "What's the Mafia?" asks Mr. Sidewalk, staring calmly back at the commission lawyer interrogating him under oath. "I can't explain it to you, I don't know that." He adds: "Is it someone who kills? Is it someone who steals? Is it someone who sells drugs? I don't know." Twice Charbonneau is heard reminding Milioto he could end up in jail for contempt, never mind corruption.