The public will get a glimpse at the tens of thousands of names — including those of more than 3,000 Canadians and Canadian companies — in the Paradise Papers starting today. While 380-plus journalists have been delving into the Paradise Papers for months, the leak contains 13.4 million records — a dauntingly large number that made it impossible to examine every file. The searchable data that the ICIJ is releasing online today comes from offshore law firm Appleby, whose files make up the majority of the Paradise Papers. The names of more than 90,000 offshore companies, though in many cases cases the true owner is still shrouded in anonymity. Offshore jurisdictions like Bermuda, which features prominently in the Paradise Papers, often have strict confidentiality rules for bank accounts and shell companies that make it easier to hide assets from tax authorities.

Source: CBC News November 17, 2017 15:10 UTC