Marois urges ‘prudence’
Quebec premier accused of interference in inquiry after testimony hits a nerve with Parti Québécois
MONTREAL— Quebec Premier Pauline Marois is being accused of political interference after publicly urging “prudence” as a high-profile inquiry into corruption hears startling testimony about how elections in the province have been rigged for decades. The Charbonneau commission has been dropping bombshells on Quebec’s political class for months, but the accusations that prompted the Parti Québécois leader’s comments came only after a former PQ transport minister, Guy Chevrette, was singled out by a witness for rigging construction contracts and taking a $100,000 kickback.
Until now, it has been municipal officials in Montreal and provincial Liberal ministers whose activities have been targeted by the Charbonneau probe, which is examining collusion in the construction industry and corruption in politics.
But the commission is now moving into a new domain and it has hit a nerve with the PQ.
Delivering the shocking statements about the depths firms have gone to in order to win contracts and win over decision makers is former political organizer Gilles Cloutier, who was hired by a prominent engineering firm because he was so successful at bringing in government work.
Cloutier’s earlier testimony about breaking spending laws during the 1995 campaign against Quebec sovereignty had infuriated separatists. But as his testimony continued, it rattled the PQ, which has presented itself as the ethical alternative to Liberal corruption.
That prompted the premier’s statement to reporters after a party meeting Thursday in Quebec City. “The commission must do its work, but it must be done with prudence,” Marois said. Her deputy premier, François Gendron, said the commission should “be careful” lest the testimony heard at the probe undermine Quebecers’ confidence in all politicians. “I’m someone that has a name, credibility and I went into politics to fight against what has been described,” he said. Jacques Duchesneau, a member of the Coalition Avenir Quebec and a former anti-corruption investigator, said the premier’s words of caution sounded more like a threat. The opposition Liberals asked Marois to take back her “inacceptable” statement which risks interfering in the commission’s future work. The PQ government refrained from such cautions last fall when Montreal city hall was being rocked by allegations of Mafia activity, illegal party financing and rigged infrastructure contracts. That testimony last year led to the resignation of mayor Gérald Tremblay in November after he said that he was falsely accused of turning a blind eye to campaign overspending.