Anti-corruption squad leader leaving post effective Nov. 2
Two days after a high-profile investigation involving a Liberal MNA fell apart, Robert Lafrenière, director of Quebec’s anti-corruption squad, has resigned from his post.
UPAC officials confirmed that Lafrenière would be leaving his post on Nov. 2, but provided no other details.
The resignation, announced Monday, follows a decision on Friday by Quebec’s office of criminal prosecutions to not challenge a motion by lawyers for Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette seeking to quash warrants that allowed the seizure by UPAC of the politician’s cellphone and computer during a controversial and high-profile investigation. Ouellette had reportedly been suspected of leaking information to news media.
The decision not to challenge the motion essentially ended an investigation that saw a sitting MNA arrested and his possessions seized, but no charges laid.
Lafrenière headed UPAC since 2011, when it was created by the Charest government in response to reports and criticism of perceived corruption in the awarding of public contracts. However, his stewardship of the organization was marked by complaints of low morale in the squad as well as criticism over the speed with which it conducted its investigations.
In early September, Coalition Avenir Québec Leader François Legault said he wanted to review the work of the heads of the Sûreté du Québec, the Montreal police department and UPAC. Legault noted also that Lafrenière had not been voted into his post by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.
Last December, a scathing internal report on work relations within UPAC was leaked to the media and painted a picture of the squad’s business integrity verification unit riven with personnel conflicts, palpable tension and a lack of trust between employees and managers.