The husband of Michaëlle Jean came to his defense

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The secretary-general Michaëlle Jean and her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond in 2010.

Alexandre Robillard

Wednesday, 7 march, 2018 00:00

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Wednesday, 7 march, 2018 00:00

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The husband of Michaëlle Jean has brought to the defence of a cruise estimated at $ 1 million, organized by the international Organization of the francophonie, without, however, presenting the figures of the project.

Its page on Facebook, the filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond has published on Friday a post entitled ” Lie ? “. Mr. Lafond has a report of the survey Office to disinformation and manipulation in a deliberately partisan.

“It may well be then that the truth is any other, and that it is worth listening to the other party before the judge,” wrote the husband of Mrs. Jean, secretary general of the OIF.

He also reiterated his account of the figures of the OIF, which ensures not to have committed more than $ 400,000 of public funds in the project Hermione.

In his text, Mr. Lafond, however, makes no mention of estimates of the OIF, which provide for expenditure of $ 1 million for the cruise ship The Hermione, currently in the Mediterranean.

These funds must cover the cost of participation of 100 young nationals of the countries and the member governments of the francophonie, including Quebec.

The total estimate of $ 1 million has been established by Audrey Delacroix, an adviser to Michaëlle Jean, and Ma-

Umba Mabiala, director of Education and Youth (DEJ), responsible for the project Hermione, in the documents consulted by the Bureau of investigation.

For weeks, the OIF shall refuse to disclose these figures. Mr. Lafond has not responded to a request for an interview.

Private partners

Last week, the Bureau of investigation has published a report stating that the OIF had not obtained a commitment of $ 40,000 from private partners last fall.

In July, the OIF had been prevented, in particular by Quebec and Canada, drawing $ 400,000 in its reserve fund to finance part of the project. The federal government had demanded that the OIF is the major part of its funding from external partners.

Visiting Paris this week, the prime minister Philippe Couillard has demanded more transparency on the part of Ms. Jean, who is seeking a new mandate of four years. During this visit, Michaëlle Jean, has refused to meet with the media in quebec with Mr. Couillard.