Complex sentence: Desjardins was very closely associated with the Mafia during his time as union chief, and his time as chief of the "Conseil des métiers de la construction" union is remembered as being a "reign of terror" in the construction industry in Quebec.
Split into simpler sentences: Desjardins was very closely associated with the Mafia during his time as union chief. Desjardins's time as chief of the "Conseil des métiers de la construction" union is remembered as being a "reign of terror" in the construction industry in Quebec.