Sam Hamad denies ethics played role in resignation
Former Liberal minister says reputation, record untarnished despite allegations
A tearful Sam Hamad said farewell to politics Thursday but insisted his departure had nothing to do with the current ethical controversy swirling around the Liberals.
“I leave with my head held high,” Hamad said at a news conference in his home riding of LouisHébert in suburban Quebec City.
“I am very proud of what I accomplished.
“After 14 years, I have had a full experience.”
And Hamad, 58, insisted his own ethical record is untarnished despite allegations he was a little too close to disgraced former Liberal cabinet minister Marc-Yvan Côté.
Last year Hamad had to step down as Treasury Board president because of his connection to a government contract handed to Côté’s firm, Premier Tech.
Hamad said Quebec’s auditorgeneral, and both the National Assembly ethics and lobbyism commissioners investigated the case and found he did nothing wrong.
“Everything is clean,” Hamad said Thursday. “I have my honour. I did everything I had to do while respecting the rules and with full integrity. I am very proud.”
But conspicuously absent for his departure was Premier Philippe Couillard, who usually attends such farewell news conferences.
Later, Couillard issued a statement highlighting Hamad’s contributions to life in the provincial capital and noted that during his 14-year political career he ran seven different ministries.
Hamad has been stewing on the sidelines since April 2016 when he was pressured to leave cabinet, believing the premier was not handing him a one-way bus ticket out of town.
In January he met Couillard one-on-one to plead his case but to no avail. While Couillard was paying a price in the Quebec City ridings where Hamad is very popular, the optics of bringing him back into his embattled government in full ethical crisis precluded Hamad’s return.
On Thursday, recalling his humble origins as a Syrian immigrant who landed in Quebec with literally two suitcases and no winter coat on his back, Hamad said his decision to leave was made a few months ago after much reflection.
He said the current climate for the Liberals — the party was rocked this week by news a former premier, Jean Charest, is under investigation by UPAC — was not a factor in his decision.
Asked if he was disappointed he never got back into cabinet, Hamad said: “We are humans. We don’t have armour. We are proud.”
He did not have one critical word for Couillard, thanking him and the other premier he served in 14 years of political life, Charest.
If he had one parting shot it is that his resignation sparks a byelection in the Quebec City region, which is the fortress of the Coalition Avénir Québec.
Already other Liberal MNAs here are looking over their shoulders as the CAQ eats into the Liberal core vote.
Hamad said he was proud of what he accomplished in his role as minister responsible for Quebec City. He included the new Vidéotron arena on his long list, plus the fact Quebec City has the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
An engineer by trade, Hamad has also served as labour and transport minister and minister responsible for the provincial capital. There are reports he has already found a new job in the private sector.