MONTREAL - A security company embroiled in ongoing Quebec political scandals has officially been declared bankrupt.

The Canadian Bureau of Investigations, known as BCIA, was declared bankrupt by a trustee following a meeting in Montreal today.

The news brings little comfort to 800 security agents, who are owed on average $3,000 each and have essentially been working as volunteers, according to their union.

BCIA has been at the centre of a political scandal that cost Tony Tomassi his job and his cabinet seat with the provincial Liberals.

Tomassi was fired after it came to light that he had used a credit card given to him by BCIA.

Quebec's director general of elections is also investigating Tomassi as well as the company's majority shareholder, Luigi Coretti, over alleged illegal fundraising.

Coretti did not appear at a shareholders' meeting today, sending along a doctor's note.

The union says employees will get some of their money back thanks to a government program that protects salaries.