It's been a busy year for the province's permanent anti-corruption unit which outlined its activities for 2012 Wednesday morning.

UPAC made 49 arrests in 2012, laid 177 criminal charges, and executed 450 search warrants. It also received no less than 837 tips from the public. The head of UPAC credits the Charbonneau Commission for the large response.

"The Charbonneau Commission has been very good for us," says leader Robert Lafreniere. "I think people watch it, and after that, want to call to tell us what they know."

The squad also has 22 ongoing investigations on its hands. Lafreniere would not comment on their nature.

"All I can say is that the investigations stem from both the municipal and provincial levels," he says.

We will have to wait until next year to learn the results of these investigations.