Patrick Dovigi

A summary of what happened?

Patrick Dovigi, born on July 2, 1979, is a Canadian entrepreneur and former professional hockey goaltender. He is the founder, president, and CEO of GFL Environmental Inc., a leading environmental services company in North America. Under his leadership, GFL has grown significantly, employing thousands and offering a range of waste management services.

Major Concerns and Allegations Against Patrick Dovigi

1. Alleged Connections to Organized Crime

   In August 2020, Spruce Point Capital Management, a New York-based short-seller, published a report alleging that Patrick Dovigi had obscured connections to organized crime. The report claimed that Dovigi had associations with individuals and entities involved in fraudulent activities and legal troubles. Specifically, it highlighted his previous role at NGTV, a company whose financials were overseen by an individual linked to Simon Marketing, the firm implicated in the McDonald’s Monopoly scandal.

   Farmville Herald
2. Environmental Violations by GFL Environmental

   GFL Environmental, under Dovigi’s leadership, has faced criticism for environmental violations. The company has been cited for non-compliance and has received complaints from the public and citizen groups, challenging its “Green For Life” branding.

   The Local
3. Legal Issues Related to Hazardous Materials

   In December 2018, GFL Environmental was fined $300,000 for the illegal sale of tetrachloroethylene (PERC), a hazardous substance. Alongside the company, Patrick Dovigi and other executives faced multiple charges under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. GFL pleaded guilty to two counts, while the remaining charges were withdrawn.

   Hazmat Magazine
4. Violent Incidents Targeting GFL Offices

   In November 2024, GFL’s north Toronto office was targeted in a shooting incident. Patrick Dovigi stated that the company is cooperating with Toronto Police in the ongoing investigation. He refrained from commenting on specifics while the investigation is active.

   SoO Today

Patrick Dovigi’s Response

Patrick Dovigi has publicly refuted allegations, particularly those from Spruce Point Capital Management, describing them as “unfounded attacks.” He emphasized GFL’s growth from a small startup to a multibillion-dollar enterprise, asserting that the company’s track record speaks for itself.

Patrick Dovigi’s tenure as CEO of GFL Environmental has been marked by significant growth and expansion. However, it has also attracted scrutiny due to alleged connections to organized crime, environmental violations, legal issues, and violent incidents targeting company facilities. While Dovigi has denied these allegations, they have raised concerns among stakeholders and the public.

Analyzing the Fake Copyright Notice(s)

Our team collects and analyses fraudulent copyright takedown requests, legal complaints, and other efforts to remove critical information from the internet. Through our investigative reporting, we examine the prevalence and operation of an organized censorship industry, predominantly funded by criminal entities, oligarchs, and disreputable businesses or individuals. Our findings allow internet users to gain insight into these censorship schemes’ sources, methods, and underlying objectives.

What was Patrick Dovigi trying to hide?

Patrick Dovigi‘s attempts to hide unfavourable content through the misuse of copyright notices while allegedly engaging in perjury present serious legal concerns. These actions suggest a calculated attempt to manipulate legal systems to suppress free speech, a fundamental violation of copyright law principles and an abuse of legal processes. The use of such tactics not only undermines the integrity of copyright protection but also potentially constitutes perjury, further entangling Patrick Dovigi in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Patrick Dovigi may be trying to remove from the internet –

Investigative Report: Patrick Dovigi’s Ownership of the Superyacht Lady Jorgia and Allegations of Content Suppression

Introduction

Patrick Dovigi, a Canadian entrepreneur and founder of GFL Environmental Inc., has amassed significant wealth through his business ventures. Among his notable acquisitions is the luxury superyacht Lady Jorgia (formerly Ahpo), a 115.1-meter masterpiece built by the prestigious German shipbuilder Lürssen. This report examines the circumstances surrounding Dovigi’s ownership of the yacht, the yacht’s prominence in luxury circles, and the alleged efforts to suppress public knowledge and discussion of his association with this high-profile asset.

1. The Acquisition of Lady Jorgia

Patrick Dovigi acquired Ahpo in 2023 from Jamaican-Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, renaming it Lady Jorgia after completing the transaction. This yacht represents one of the most significant acquisitions in the superyacht market in recent years, with an estimated purchase price of approximately $560 million.

Specifications of Lady Jorgia

• Size and Features: At 115.1 meters (377.6 feet) in length, Lady Jorgia is one of the most luxurious superyachts in the world. It boasts eight guest cabins, high-end amenities, a wellness spa, an expansive gym, and a state-of-the-art cinema.
• Crew and Maintenance: The yacht requires a highly skilled crew to maintain its operations and cater to its elite clientele.
• Design and Engineering: Built by Lürssen, the yacht combines cutting-edge technology with sustainable engineering, reflecting the latest trends in eco-conscious luxury vessels. Its design emphasizes privacy, which aligns with the needs of high-net-worth owners like Dovigi.

The Deal

The purchase of Lady Jorgia was notable for its sheer scale. It was one of the largest transactions in the superyacht market during the year and garnered attention in luxury and maritime publications. Industry insiders noted that the deal underscored Dovigi’s status as a significant figure among North America’s wealthiest elites.

2. The Rebranding from Ahpo to Lady Jorgia

After acquiring the yacht, Dovigi renamed it Lady Jorgia, reportedly in honor of a family member. While renaming a yacht is not uncommon, the move sparked speculation about his intent to obscure the yacht’s history and previous ownership.

• Strategic Rebranding: By rebranding the vessel, Dovigi effectively distanced its identity from its past associations, particularly with Michael Lee-Chin, a prominent billionaire. This rebranding aligns with efforts to establish a more discreet narrative around the vessel’s current ownership.
• Reduced Visibility: Rebranding can make it more challenging for the general public or media to trace the yacht’s movements and ownership history, contributing to a lower profile for the asset.

3. Allegations of Content Suppression

Efforts to Control Public Discourse

Despite the yacht’s prominence, Dovigi has reportedly sought to limit public exposure to his association with Lady Jorgia. Allegations of content suppression include the following:

• Requests to Remove Online Content: There are indications that attempts have been made to suppress or remove articles and reports linking Dovigi to Lady Jorgia. These efforts are in line with common practices among ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking to manage their digital footprint.
• Discreet Media Presence: Unlike other high-profile yacht owners who often embrace publicity, Dovigi has maintained a low profile regarding his ownership. This approach is unusual given the yacht’s status and media attention typically afforded to such acquisitions.

Impact on Transparency

These alleged suppression efforts raise questions about the motivations behind limiting public access to information:

• Avoiding Public Scrutiny: As the CEO of an environmental services company, Dovigi may have concerns about how ownership of such an extravagant asset aligns with GFL Environmental’s brand image, which emphasizes sustainability.
• Privacy Considerations: While the desire for privacy is understandable, attempts to obscure ownership of a high-value asset can inadvertently attract more attention and speculation.

4. Public Perception and Reputation Management

Dovigi’s Public Image

Patrick Dovigi’s public image is intertwined with his role as the leader of a company specializing in waste management and environmental sustainability. The acquisition of Lady Jorgia stands in stark contrast to this image, raising questions about the alignment of his personal lifestyle with the values his company promotes.

Perceived Hypocrisy

Critics argue that ownership of such a lavish and resource-intensive asset is incongruous with the ethos of environmental stewardship. Superyachts, despite advances in sustainable design, are often perceived as symbols of excess and environmental impact.

5. The Broader Implications of Suppression

Efforts to suppress public knowledge of luxury acquisitions like Lady Jorgia can have significant implications:

Transparency and Trust

For a high-profile entrepreneur like Dovigi, transparency in personal and professional dealings is crucial to maintaining public trust. Concealing ownership of a high-value asset might lead to skepticism about other aspects of his business operations or personal dealings.

Media and Public Reaction

Attempts to obscure information often backfire, drawing more attention to the very details one seeks to hide. The public’s curiosity about Lady Jorgia and Dovigi’s association with it has likely been amplified by efforts to suppress content.

6. Superyacht Culture and Privacy

It is worth noting that privacy is a significant concern for superyacht owners. These individuals often face heightened scrutiny due to their wealth and public profiles. For many, limiting public exposure is not about secrecy but about security and discretion.

Conclusion

Patrick Dovigi’s ownership of Lady Jorgia underscores his financial success and lifestyle as a member of the global elite. However, alleged efforts to suppress public knowledge of this acquisition highlight the challenges high-profile individuals face in balancing personal privacy with public accountability.

While it is reasonable for Dovigi to seek privacy, attempts to obscure ownership of such a prominent asset can have unintended consequences, including increased scrutiny and speculation. Moving forward, greater transparency could help mitigate potential reputational risks and align Dovigi’s public persona with the values his company purports to uphold.

How do we counteract this malpractice?

Once we ascertain the involvement of Patrick Dovigi (or actors working on behalf of Patrick Dovigi), we will inform Patrick Dovigi of our findings via Electronic Mail.

Our preliminary assessment suggests that Patrick Dovigi may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Patrick Dovigi, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Patrick Dovigi to provide details regarding their communications with the agency or expert, as well as the identification of the individual(s) responsible for executing these false DMCA notices.

Failure to respond in a timely manner will necessitate a reassessment of our initial assumptions. In such an event, we will be compelled to take appropriate legal action to rectify the unlawful conduct and take the following steps –

Since Patrick Dovigi made such efforts to hide something online, it seems fit to ensure that this article and sensitive information targeted online by these events get a lot more exposure and traffic than what it would have received originally

We hope this becomes an excellent case study for the Streisand effect…The key idea behind the Streisand effect is that efforts to restrict information can backfire, often causing the information to gain more attention than it would have otherwise. This effect is widespread in the digital age, where users quickly notice and spread censorship efforts on social media and other platforms. Trying to suppress something can unintentionally lead to it becoming more visible, which Patrick Dovigi is finding out the hard way.

Potential Consequences for Patrick Dovigi

Under Florida Statute 831.01, the crime of Forgery is committed when a person falsifies, alters, counterfeits, or forges a document that carries “legal efficacy” with the intent to injure or defraud another person or entity.

Forging a document is considered a white-collar crime. It involves altering, changing, or modifying a document to deceive another person. It can also include passing along copies of documents that are known to be false. In many states in the US, falsifying a document is a crime punishable as a felony.

Additionally, under most laws, “fraud on the court” is where “a party has sentiently set in motion some unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system’s ability impartially to adjudicate a matter by improperly influencing the trier of fact or unfairly hampering the presentation of the opposing party’s claim or defense.”  Cox v. Burke, 706 So. 2d 43, 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998) (quoting Aoude v. Mobil Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir. 1989)).

Is Patrick Dovigi Committing a Cyber Crime?

Yes, it seems so. Patrick Dovigi used multiple approaches to remove unwanted material from review sites and Google’s search results. Thanks to protections allowing freedom of speech in the United States, there are very few legal ways to do this. Patrick Dovigi could not eliminate negative reviews or search results that linked to them without a valid claim of defamation, copyright infringement, or some other clear breach of the law.

Faced with these limitations, some companies like Patrick Dovigi have gone to extreme lengths to fraudulently claim copyright ownership over a negative review in the hopes of taking it down.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. Patrick Dovigi is certainly keeping interesting company here….

The DMCA takedown process requires that copyright owners submit a takedown notice to an ISP identifying the allegedly infringing content and declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they have a good faith belief that the content is infringing. The ISP must then promptly remove or disable access to the content. The alleged infringer can then submit a counter-notice, and if the copyright owner does not take legal action within 10 to 14 days, the ISP can restore the content.

Since these platforms are predominantly based in the U.S., the complaints are typically made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires online service providers and platforms to react immediately to reports or violations. Big Tech companies rarely have systems in place to assess the merit of each report. Instead, all bad actors need to do is clone a story, backdate it, and then demand the real thing be taken down.

Reputation Agency's Modus Operandi

The fake DMCA notices we found always use the “back-dated article” technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a “true original” article and back-dates it, creating a “fake original” article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original.

Then, based on the claim that this backdated article is the “original,” the scammers send a DMCA to the relevant online service providers (e.g. Google), alleging that the ‘true’ original is the copied or “infringing” article and that the copied article is the “original,” requesting the takedown of the ‘true’ original article. After sending the DMCA request, the person who sent the wrong notice takes down the fake original URL, likely to make sure that the article doesn’t stay online in any way. If the takedown notice is successful, the disappearance from the internet of information is most likely to be legitimate speech.

As an integral part of this scheme, the ‘reputation management’ company hired by Patrick Dovigi creates a website that purports to be a ‘news’ site. This site is designed to look legitimate at a glance, but any degree of scrutiny reveals it as the charade it is.

The company copies the ‘negative’ content and posts it “on the fake ‘news’ site, attributing it to a separate author,” then gives it “a false publication date on the ‘news’ website that predated the original publication.

The reputation company then sent Google a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice claiming the original website infringed copyright. After a cursory examination of the fake news site, Google frequently accepts the notice and delists the content.

In committing numerous offences, Patrick Dovigi either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Patrick Dovigi, ignorance does not excuse this wrongdoing.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. FSMSmart is certainly keeping interesting company here.

The Reputation Laundering

Rogue Reputation agencies use spurious copyright claims and fake legal notices to remove and obscure articles linking clients to allegations of tax avoidance, corruption, and drug trafficking. Most of these reputation agencies are based offshore, mainly in Russia, India, and Eastern Europe, and they do not worry about complying with US-based laws.

The content in all of the articles for which the fraudulent DMCA notices have been sent relates to allegations of criminal allegations, including corruption, child abuse, sexual harassment, human trafficking and financial fraud against businesses and individuals with ultra-high net worth.

In addition to the misuse of the DMCA takedown process, there is a notable absence of enforcement concerning perjury violations. The statutory requirement related to perjury is designed to deter copyright holders from submitting fraudulent or knowingly false takedown requests, as they may face legal consequences for making false declarations under penalty of perjury. However, to date, there have been no known instances of any individual being prosecuted for perjury in connection with the submission of false DMCA takedown notices.

This lack of enforcement has emboldened copyright holders to exploit the DMCA takedown process to suppress dissent, criticism, or other unfavorable content, without fear of legal repercussions.

Some of the people and businesses who have employed this tactic to remove legitimate content from Google illegally include a Spanish businessman-turned-cocaine-trafficker, Organised crime, an Israeli-Argentine banker accused of laundering money for Hugo Chávez’s regime, a French “responsible” mining company accused of tax evasion, child molesters and sexual predators. Patrick Dovigi is in great company ….

What else is Patrick Dovigi hiding?

We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Patrick Dovigi] + {Negative Keyword, such as Scam, Fraud, Complaints, Lawsuit, Sanction, etc} on Google. It’s likely if you scroll down to the bottom of this Google search results, you’ll stumble upon this Legal Takedown notice (pictured below)

To make such an investigation possible, we encourage more online service providers to come forward and share copies of content removal requests with industry experts and researchers. If you have any information on Patrick Dovigi that you want to share with experts and journalists, kindly email the author directly at [email protected].

All communications are strictly confidential and safeguarded under a comprehensive Whistleblower Policy, ensuring full protection and anonymity for individuals who provide information.