March 19, 2010

Ex-Quebec minister says Liberals got ‘generous’ donations from construction sector

QUEBEC CITY

A former Quebec Liberal justice minister says his ex-party received generous donations from business leaders in the province’s much-maligned construction sector.

In media interviews, Marc Bellemare said he was privy to information he couldn’t divulge to the public while he was a minister in Premier Jean Charest’s government from 2003 to 2004.

He says he can make a direct link between the Liberals and the construction industry, and has knowledge that could embarrass the government.

Bellemare also said he would gladly testify before a public inquiry into the province’s construction industry, which has been swamped by corruption allegations.

Quebec announced last fall it was launching a widespread investigation into the construction sector.

The province has also introduced new legislation to tighten the financing of political parties and the awarding of public contracts.

The Opposition Parti Quebecois have repeatedly pressed the Liberal government on allegations that tie it to the construction industry.

But documents obtained Tuesday by The Canadian Press show the PQ have also received donations from a former union boss in the industry, who is facing fraud and forgery charges.

Jocelyn Dupuis, the former head of the Quebec Federation of Labour’s influential construction wing, donated between $250 and $450 to the PQ between 2003 to 2007.

Canadian Press

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