The ex-number 2 of the UPAC continues to Québec city for$2 Million

Archival Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin
Last November 30, Marcel Forget, then number 2 of the UPAC, has left the organisation following a report from our Office of investigation was concerned. He alleged today that it is under pressure from his boss that he has handed in his letter of resignation, and continues to Québec city for $ 2 million in wages and damages.

Jean-Louis Fortin and
Félix Séguin

Thursday, February 8, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Thursday, February 8, 2018 01:00

Look at this article

The ex-number 2 of the Unité permanente anti-corruption Marcel Forget, sued the government of Quebec for $ 2 million because he believes he was fired illegally.

Mr. Forget, who held the position of associate Commissioner for audits, has left the Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) last November 30 after the Bureau investigation has revealed that it would have acted as intermediary for the purchase of shares of the controversial company Newtech in the 1990s and 2000s, at the same time that he was an officer of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).

Five police officers or ex-police officers claimed to have purchased shares of Newtech through or at the recommendation of Mr. Forget, who was not licensed broker. Two of them were even said to have given cheque directly to Mr. Forget, at the registered office of the SQ.

Newtech sold a concept of the brake is supposedly revolutionary, but ultimately has never been marketed.

In the lawsuit that he filed yesterday afternoon in the superior Court, Mr. Forget argues that the allegations published in Le Journal de Montréal are ” false, misleading and biased “. He argues that they are ” insufficient […] to establish the existence of a fraud “.

“Two minutes” to think about it

The ex-police officer says that it is under the threat that his boss forced him to resign. André Fortier, associate secretary general to the jobs senior, would have called the November 30, from 9: 40 a.m., in the hours following the publication of the Newspaper.

He would have then said Marcel Forget ” that it would be better for the rest of his career that he resigned “, and ” that failure to resign, the government would “dismiss” a”, one reads in the pursuit.

“Mr. Fortier added that Mr. Forget has “two minutes” to think about it, the minister of public Security, Mr. Martin Coiteux, being on the point of giving a press conference where the departure of Mr. Forget will be announced and that it would be better to announce a resignation than a dismissal, ” says the statement of claim.

“In fact, it is against his will and placed in an untenable position that Mr. Forget’s announcement that he will send his resignation,” says the missive, stating that the number 2 of the UPAC was ” in shock “.

Letter of resignation

Around 11 a.m., the head of UPAC, Robert Lafreniere would have then contacted Mr. Forget to ask him to send his letter of resignation formal. Without waiting to have received the document, Mr. Lafrenière would then announced the resignation of his number 2 to the staff of UPAC.

Photo Courtesy

The allegations of Mr. Forget, if proved, could be a further demonstration of the climate-toxic reign at the UPAC. Since December, our Office of investigation and other media have revealed that :

• A report dated 2016 highlighted the working relationship very difficult within the division that was handling Mr. Forget.
• A second report produced by an expert on SQ, and of which a summary was made public this week, talking about jealousy and favoritism within the set of UPAC.

Marcel Forget was responsible for the UPAC to the verification of the integrity of the companies doing business with the State, and was earning an annual salary of approximately $150,000.

In a press release, the UPAC was announced that Mr. Forget had preferred to withdraw ” in order not to cause harm to the organization “, and that” no illegal act is alleged against Mr. Forget “.

Read in pursuit

“It is clear that the government has left no choice to Mr. Forget. Therefore, it is clearly a forced resignation, which has not been freely given, and thus a constructive dismissal. “

“In fact, Mr. Forget is the scapegoat of a crisis that had been going to the UPAC and the department of public Safety for the past several months, the government has chosen to fire him for the sole purpose of saving appearances. “

“The improper conduct of the government and the psychological harassment exercised by Mr. Fortier have had serious consequences on the physical and psychological health of Mr. Forget. “

– Marcel Forget

In a hurry to announce the resignation

The big boss of the UPAC, Robert Lafreniere, had announced the resignation of Marcel Forget before you even receive his official resignation letter, we learn in the pursuit.

Photo courtesy

According to documents submitted by Mr. Forget in his pursuit, Mr. Lafrenière was reported to have announced to the employees of UPAC the resignation of his number 2 at 10: 51, (above). However, he would not have received the letter starting at 12: 10 a.m., more than an hour after (below).

Photo Courtesy

In the meantime, according to Marcel Forget, the minister of public Safety, Martin Coiteux, had also announced the resignation of the right arm of Robert Lafrenière in a press conference.