Couillard defends pay boost for trade envoy

Premier Philippe Couillard on Friday defended a substantial pay hike for Pierre Marc Johnson, Quebec’s representative in negotiations on the Canada-European Union free trade agreement.

Johnson’s pay went from $275,000 to $500,000 even though negotiations have ended and the deal is set to take effect Sept. 21.

But Johnson will continue to promote the deal to Quebec businesses to “maximize the benefits,” explained Gabrielle Tellier, press attaché to economy minister Dominique Anglade.

“There are consultations (to follow) during the enforcement of the deal,” Couillard said during a twoday caucus in Val-d’Or.

Johnson will also have two new mandates, Couillard said. He will assist Raymond Bachand, the former finance minister who is representing Quebec in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

He will also be a special adviser to Anglade.

“While he’s doing these activities he can’t do others, so I think it is, on principal, legitimate,” Couillard said.

Johnson succeeded René Lévesque as leader of the Parti Québécois and was briefly premier in 1985.

Johnson presided a commission of inquiry into the collapse of the De la Concorde Blvd. overpass in Laval in 2006.

He is also the brother of Daniel Johnson, former Liberal premier.