Reactions were numerous in Quebec, a day after the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) revelations about media leaks by the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC).
The EIB suspected former commissioner Robert Lafrenière, who left his post in 2018, as well as his close guard at the time they released sensitive information to the media, thus derailing the trial of former Minister Nathalie Normandeau and her five accompanying defendant.
In this context, opposition parties are questioning the future of the police force.
Personally, I have a hard time seeing the relevance of the institution today, what we have on the tablesaid this Tuesday morning liberal leader Dominique Anglade, at a press briefing.
” You can’t trustUPAC now with the information that has been leaked. Impossible. “
In all cases, it must change, because theUPACit should be a police force on which we can rely, estimates in part Quebec solidaire co-spokesperson Manon Massé. Its members, he said, must meet the highest standards of investigation and, now, big questions are emerging.
In fact, I have the impression that we have been deprived of this body for several years, which allows us to fight corruption, and it is timeUPAC prove yourselfsaid Ms. Massé.
One thing is certain, to maintain this confidence, the police force must fix the media leaks file once and for all, added PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. I expect at least, if the evidence is there and clear, that there are responsible for this sabotage of our institutionshe said.
Quebec Conservative Party leader Éric Duhaime also believes thatUPAC no longer worthy of the freedom he gained in 2018: his training was convinced that the police force should return to the Sûreté du Québec jail, he pleaded on Twitter on Tuesday morning.
It’s up to them to deliver the goodsresponse of CAQ
For her part, the Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, gave the runner a chance, pointing out that several organizational changes have been made in recent years to ensure the integrity of theUPAC.
From the moment we gave them all the legislative equipment [et] regulation [nécessaires] and with a new commissioner appointed, they will be in charge of delivering the goods and doing what they are supposed to do.he commented Tuesday morning.
In an interview with Radio-Canada, Robert Lafrenière strongly denied the allegations supported by EIB in the context of the “trial in Normandeau”. The former commissioner, now retired, insisted he did not provide documents to journalists.
The EIB, for its part, was informed that its investigation was ongoing; that 130 witnesses have been interviewed so far; and he hopes to file a case with the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) in December.
Source: Radio-Canada
