Our Bureau of investigation makes things happen

Jean-Louis Fortin and
Annabelle Blais

Saturday, 30 December, 2017 22:25

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Saturday, 30 December, 2017 22:25

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In 2017, the reports of our Bureau of investigation have dictated the news repeatedly. A member of provincial parliament, Gaétan Lelièvre, was excluded from the caucus of the parti québecois after we revealed its close ties with leaders of a firm controversial. The ex-Montreal mayor Denis Coderre has admitted an error in respect of a cheque that he had received in 2012. Without forgetting our revelations about the police investigation, which aims the funding policy to the liberal Party of Quebec, who have unleashed a real hunt for sources on the part of the Unité permanente anti-corruption.

The hunt for sources is launched

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The boss of the UPAC, Robert Lafreniere, has promised to find the sources of our Bureau of investigation.

On the 24th of April, our Office of investigation revealed that the Unité permanente anti-corruption (UPAC) also monitored closely the former prime minister, Jean Charest, and the ex-treasurer liberal Marc Bibeau in the course of an investigation named Mâchurer. The stories that have followed have occupied the forefront of the political news throughout the year.

But while we revealed many details on the proximity between gentlemen Charest and Bibeau, UPAC, she was worried about, rather the leaks of information in the media.

An internal inquiry was first set on foot, followed, in early June, triggering a criminal investigation.

A team of investigators consisting of six police forces then at work ” in secrecy “, was acknowledged later as the director of operations of UPAC, Andre Baker.

During its passage in the national Assembly on may 4, the grand patron of the UPAC, Robert Lafreniere, said he wanted “passionately” to put the hand to the neck of the “bandit” who allegedly leaked details of the investigation.

Member of parliament arrested

On the 25th of October, a shock wave rocking the national Assembly : the liberal mna Guy Ouellette has been stopped without explanation. The homes of two police officers are also raided, but no charges are filed.

Faced with this situation, the president of the national Assembly Jacques Chagnon gave a historic speech in which he proclaims ” that can accuse or excuse “.

At the press conference, leaders of the UPAC have explained some elements of this leak investigation.

“I’m fundamentally convinced that there will be charges in this folder-there,” said Mr. Lafrenière.

However, he refused to say if he was referring to Mr. Ouellette.

On November 15, our Office of investigation was further revelations about the influence of Marc Bibeau on the Quebec liberal Party (QLP), in particular of the lavish receptions in which the ministers and the engineering firms were linked.

To this day, no charges have been filed, or against any of the suspects of the investigation Mâchurer, or against any of the sources that would have informed the media.

Guy Ouellette has returned to the liberal caucus on November 21.

Politicians in the lurch

An mp is kicked out of the PQ

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Gaétan Lelièvre

The past of the member of parliament for Gaspé, Gaétan Lelièvre came back to haunt after our Bureau investigation had revealed that he had sought the favors of an engineering firm when he was director general of the City of Gaspé, in 2008-2009.

Mr. Lelievre has requested and obtained tickets to the Bell Centre for his son, he has received a free condo belonging to an engineer from the firm Roche. The latter also invited Mr. Lelièvre to spend ” a small party of guys “. However, at the same time, Roche was looking to get big contracts with the City of Gaspé.

Mr. Lelievre has never been accused of fraud and breach of trust, contrary to the ex-mayor of Gaspé François Roussy. But his behaviour raised a number of questions. Confronted with the evidence published in the Journal, The Parti québécois has preferred to exclude from its caucus. Mr. Lelièvre seat since may 17, as an independent member.

Denis Coderre recognizes an error

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Denis Coderre

The ex-mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre has been placed in the embarrassment when our Bureau investigation has revealed that, in April, that he had cashed a cheque of $ 25,000 made by the businessman John Rizzuto. He had received the cheque in 2012, while he was a federal member of parliament, but had not declared to the ethics commissioner of the House of commons.

“Maybe I would have had to do it [declare the gift to the ethics commissioner],” he admitted the next day during a press briefing.

According to Denis Coderre, the money was used to pay legal fees in a lawsuit against the hockey player Shane Doan in 2005.

Contacted the first time by our Bureau of investigation, the mayor of the time had denied having received the cheque, before remember it three weeks later. He had made this omission on account of acute prostatitis.

Attacked by the Project team and Montreal during the election campaign about our revelations, Denis Coderre was not re-elected in the elections of 5 November.