Lino Zambito author of Le Témoin remains one of the most talked-about figures to emerge from Quebec’s construction corruption scandal. Once the president of Infrabec, he became a star witness at the Charbonneau Commission, and years later turned that experience into a bestselling book. This article covers Lino Zambito’s age, his conjoint, his net worth, and what he’s been doing in 2026, based on verified reporting rather than rumour.
If you’ve searched his name recently, you’re probably trying to figure out where he ended up after the scandal, the sentencing, and the bankruptcy. Here’s a clear, factual picture.
Who Is Lino Zambito?
Lino Zambito was born in Montreal to Italian immigrant parents who arrived in Canada during the 1950s. Before entering the construction industry, he ran a handful of other businesses, eventually launching his own construction firm, Infrabec, in 1997. That company would go on to win dozens of municipal contracts before becoming central to one of the largest public inquiries in Quebec history.
In 2012, he testified before the Charbonneau Commission, the inquiry into collusion and corruption in Quebec’s construction industry. His testimony detailed how his company allegedly paid bribes to a city of Montreal engineer to inflate cost estimates, and he named companies linked to Tony Accurso as beneficiaries of the same system. He’s since been credited as one of the individuals who most advanced the commission’s work.
Legal Consequences
Zambito’s public unravelling didn’t stop at testimony. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud connected to a scheme in Boisbriand, admitting he’d offered a bribe to former mayor Sylvie Saint-Jean-Berniquez and members of the town council to secure a favourable contract vote. He was sentenced in November 2015 to two years to be served in the community, along with 240 hours of community service.
That legal chapter, paired with a personal bankruptcy, is a major reason his name still generates search interest years later. People want to know what happened after the headlines faded.
Lino Zambito’s Age in 2026
Based on a 2012 Radio-Canada report that listed him as 43 years old, Lino Zambito was likely born around 1968 or 1969, which puts him in his late fifties in 2026. Public sources haven’t published his exact birth date, so his age is best estimated within that range rather than stated as a precise figure.
That age places him firmly in a second-act phase of his career, well past the construction scandal and now running a different kind of business entirely.
Lino Zambito Author: The Book That Changed the Narrative
In November 2016, while still serving the community portion of his sentence, Lino Zambito published Le Témoin through Les Éditions de l’Homme. The book walks through his arrest, his cooperation with police across 35 separate meetings, and his eight days of testimony before the Charbonneau Commission.
What sets Le Témoin apart from a typical tell-all is its target. Rather than simply recounting events, Zambito used the book to criticize specific politicians, including questioning why Boisbriand’s then-mayor Marlène Cordato hadn’t faced charges similar to her predecessor’s. He argued that Quebec’s anti-corruption unit, UPAC, should be appointed independently of government influence, comparing it to how the auditor general’s office operates.
Why the Book Still Matters
- It’s one of few first-person accounts from inside Quebec’s construction collusion system, rather than a journalist’s reconstruction of events.
- It names specific individuals and disputes, giving readers a level of detail the Charbonneau Commission’s public hearings didn’t always capture.
- It positions Zambito less as a repentant witness and more as someone still actively pushing back against the political system he says protected others.
That combative tone is part of why he’s remained a recognizable name well beyond the news cycle that made him famous.
Lino Zambito’s Conjoint
Zambito’s personal life includes a previous common-law relationship, referenced in bankruptcy filings that noted his former partner continued living with their children in a home he co-owned. That detail confirms he has children, though public reporting hasn’t gone into further depth about them.
More recently, in 2025, reports surfaced suggesting Zambito is in a relationship with Marie-Claude Savard, a Quebec media personality. According to that reporting, the two were seen together at a public event, and further sightings alongside media figure Daniel Tadros added to the speculation. It’s worth noting this account is based on media reports describing the relationship as rumoured rather than a fact either party has directly confirmed, so readers should treat it as unconfirmed until Zambito or Savard addresses it publicly.
Lino Zambito’s Net Worth
Zambito’s finances took a well-documented hit after his legal troubles. He filed for personal bankruptcy with roughly $1.5 million in total debts, including a $1 million claim from insurer Aviva tied to a legal dispute, plus tax debts of $36,000 to the Canada Revenue Agency and $42,000 to Revenu Québec.
Since then, he’s shifted into the restaurant industry, co-owning a pizzeria with Luc Viau, former owner of the Houston Steaks and Ribs franchise. Coverage describing his current ventures suggests he’s rebuilt some financial stability, though no verified net worth figure has been published for 2026.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated age (2026) | Late 50s (born approx. 1968–1969) |
| Known for | Charbonneau Commission testimony, author of Le Témoin |
| Legal history | Guilty plea 2015; sentenced to two years community-served |
| Financial history | Personal bankruptcy, roughly $1.5 million in debts |
| Current work | Restaurant industry entrepreneur |
| Conjoint | Rumoured relationship with Marie-Claude Savard (unconfirmed) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Lino Zambito? Based on a 2012 report listing him as 43, he’s likely in his late fifties as of 2026, though his exact birth date hasn’t been publicly confirmed.
What book did Lino Zambito write? He authored Le Témoin, published in 2016, detailing his role in the Charbonneau Commission and his criticism of Quebec’s political and justice systems.
Who is Lino Zambito’s conjoint? He was previously in a common-law relationship with the mother of his children. More recently, he’s been rumoured to be dating Marie-Claude Savard, though this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
What is Lino Zambito’s net worth? No verified figure exists. He filed for personal bankruptcy with about $1.5 million in debts and has since moved into the restaurant business.
What does Lino Zambito do now? He works as a restaurant industry entrepreneur, co-owning a pizzeria, and continues to appear in Quebec media, including QUB radio and Tout le monde en parle.
Final Thoughts
Lino Zambito’s story didn’t end with the Charbonneau Commission or his guilty plea. As an author, he turned his testimony into a pointed critique of Quebec’s political system, and despite a well-documented bankruptcy, he’s since rebuilt a career in the restaurant industry. Whether the rumours about his current relationship are confirmed or not, his willingness to keep speaking publicly, on radio, on television, and in print, is what’s kept his name relevant a decade after the scandal broke.
If you’re interested in the full account of what happened behind the scenes, Le Témoin remains the most detailed first-person record available, straight from the man who helped expose the system.
