The allegations of Yves Francoeur for two elected liberals are not based

Photo Chantal Poirier

Jean-Louis Fortin

Tuesday, 19 December 2017 12:07

UPDATE
Tuesday, 19 December 2017 12:07

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The allegations of Yves Francoeur about a criminal investigation that would have been prevented because she would have referred to two elected liberals were unfounded, according to the Sûreté du Québec.

In April 2017, Francoeur, who is president of the Brotherhood of police of Montreal, had said on the air on 98.5 FM that he had been have been a witness to an inquiry for traffic of influence for two elected liberals. He had suggested that the filing of charges was blocked because the file was these elected officials.

Then on September 18, 2018, our Office of investigation has revealed the identity of the two elected to be covered by Francoeur, who named them in a written statement of eight pages in which he has surrendered to the Sûreté du Québec.

Following our revelations, the SQ had decided to expand its investigation on the allegations of the trade union leader. It had formed a joint team overseen parYves Morency, assistant director of the SQ and Madeleine Giauque, director of the Office of the independent surveys (EIB).

“The result of the analysis of all the elements, the mixed team came to the conclusion that there is no evidence any fraud or influence peddling,” says the SQ in a press release issued Tuesday morning.

“As a result, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence has been committed by anyone”, continues the document.

In his statement to the police, Yves Francoeur called the liberal party leader Jean-Marc Fournier, and the ex-minister of Finance Raymond Bachand. It was alleged that the two men had participated in a meeting at 1000 de la Commune, an apartment building to condos in Old Montreal, in the company of an influential real estate developer.

“It would be a development issue, and/or region free land in return for contributions to the liberal Party of Quebec,” wrote Mr. Francoeur in his statement.

Jean-Marc Fournier is remembered to have attended a fundraising event, but said there have “never been involved in a case of zoning” and denied having anything to apologize for.

When Mr. Bachand, it was not even present at the scene. Yves Francoeur would have written his name by mistake in his statement, aimed rather the ex-minister Claude Béchard, who has a similar name.

The minister of public Safety Martin Coiteux responded prudently Tuesday, shortly after the unveiling of the findings of the investigation to the SQ.

He said that Yves Francoeur would have the opportunity to explain “if it wished”. “It belongs to him, I’m not going to express myself in his place”, he simply dropped out.