Republic of investigations

Quebec has become the republic of investigations into police investigations and that does not seem to bother our elected officials.

Yves Boisvert
The Press

Think about everything that's happened in three and a half years.

You remember ? March 2016. It was budget day in Quebec City, but the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) took the whole media spot: the former Deputy Prime Minister Nathalie Normandeau was arrested. At the same time as a former Liberal minister and political heavyweight of the party, Marc-Yvan Côté.

A "pure chance", said at the time Robert Lafrenière, Commissioner of UPAC.

It was pure chance that had put enormous pressure on Philippe Couillard's government and more or less forced the renewal of the Commissioner's mandate.

One could have seen as a punishment a non-renewal just after these two unprecedented arrests in modern political history.

I defended Robert Lafrenière in these pages. I still believe that UPAC's record is important (especially at the municipal level, though). But three and a half years after the arrest of Nathalie Normandeau, there are too many gray areas not to worry about the conduct of these investigations.

I would like to remind you that, other than "pure chance", Mr. Lafrenière announced his stepping down of his position as Commissioner on the day of the provincial election last year – effective one month later. All without ever providing any explanation.

It's starting to make a lot of political coincidences. Enough in any case to question the game politico-police leader of the fight against corruption in Quebec.

Lafrenière is replaced by Frederic Gaudreau, and the position is officially open since this summer.

And here we learn, on the eve of the long weekend of Labor Day (it's crazy, the chances), a partial deflation of charges against Nathalie Normandeau, Marc-Yvan Côté and their five co-accused.

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Arrested in March 2016, the ex-politician still has not had her trial, three and a half years later. Even the preliminary inquiry was overturned, the prosecution having filed a privileged indictment in October 2017. In principle, this exceptional procedure is intended to speed up the process and take the accused into a rather heavy file directly at their trial. Except that Marc-Yvan Côté is calling for a complete halt to the judicial process, citing a casting orchestrated in high detail of the investigation to journalists Marie-Maude Denis, of Radio-Canada, and Louis Lacroix, Cogeco. The case is currently in the Supreme Court. The highest court in the country must say if journalists can be forced to testify to reveal their sources.

Why then did the prosecution announce Friday the withdrawal of 5 out of 12 counts? Simple adjustment of the file, explained the representative of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). The case was simplified by removing charges of corruption, conspiracy and fraud after disclosure of certain information by the defense. But we are assured that the rest of the file is very solid against the former minister of Jean Charest.

Allow us to have doubts.

The charges concern regional cases of subsidies to municipalities already exposed to the Charbonneau commission. Companies that financed the Liberals would have been taxed on infrastructure projects.

In principle, when the Supreme Court settles the issue of source protection, the case will resume.

But will we see the end?

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I just talked about leaks in the media. That leads us to the enigmatic Guy Ouellette, former police officer of the Sûreté du Québec, long Liberal MP, expelled from the caucus of his party soon after the elections. We do not yet understand what game he was playing, but it looks like a spying and counter-espionage film where, after 15 minutes, we do not know who is which edge.

Let's remember some non-trivial events. The MP is arrested in Quebec by the police during a break on a day when the National Assembly sits. Arrested by the UPAC. But never accused. So not accused that the Liberals let him run for office.

Reasons for arrest? He allegedly participated in casting confidential information provided by UPAC investigators, who were themselves suspended. But the lid is on this pot too, Mr. Ouellette sits in Quebec as if nothing had happened, but with a kind of radioactivity around him …

Does Guy Ouellette have any relationship with the leaks on the Normandeau inquiry? Does this have an impact on the withdrawal of certain counts? By the way, why withdraw charges like that at the end of the summer when they could have been withdrawn at trial? Maybe to avoid providing information? Or just because the law requires not to maintain unfounded accusations? Or both ?

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I would like to point out that, aside from the UPAC, which does not have a permanent commissioner, the Sûreté du Québec does not have a permanent director either.

It has been six months since Martin Prud'homme, a highly respected police officer, was suspended. Without being given any explanation. Six months ! He is the subject of an investigation. What about ? We do not know. Maybe … another case of flight. Maybe another case involving Guy Ouellette. Mr. Prud'homme, whom the government had placed at the head of the Montreal police for a year, married Mr. Lafrenière's daughter …

The duration of these mysteries no longer makes sense.

Normally, I would say: you have to investigate it … But in seven layers of investigation, I'm afraid we're just adding to the confusion.

Quebec has become the republic of investigative investigations of the investigators investigated who are investigating.

In any case, two things must be minimized. First, tell us why the CEO of the SQ, a man above all suspicion so far, is suspended; second, take advantage of the competition for a new UPAC commissioner to explain the departure of the former commissioner.

Let's start with that …