QUEBEC — It became more difficult Wednesday for Premier Philippe Couillard to defend Sam Hamad, the Liberal minister facing allegations of influence peddling.
“Should the MNA for Louis-Hébert have been more prudent? Certainly he should have been more prudent, certainly when it came to questions of lobbyism,” Couillard let slip during another heated exchange with opposition parties in question period.
Couillard had, up until that point, always defended Hamad’s integrity, hard work and determination.
Wednesday marked a change in the premier’s attitude. “This situation is evolving, will evolve and I am in constant reflection,” Couillard told the National Assembly. “I do not take this lightly.”
Last Thursday, the Radio-Canada investigative program Enquête alleged Hamad was a strategic source of information for the company Premier Tech in 2010 and helped advance the agenda of the vice-chairman of its board of directors, Marc-Yvan Côté, with the Charest government. In return, it is alleged that Côté helped Hamad with his political financing.
Hamad told media Friday he did nothing wrong but temporarily stepped aside, leaving his duties as treasury board president. He requested that the National Assembly’s ethics commissioner look into the matter and, last weekend, headed to his Florida condo to cool down while the political storm raged on in Quebec.
Couillard allowed Hamad to keep his minister’s salary and car.
PQ Leader Pierre Karl Péladeau argued Quebecers should not have to pay for “a minister of nothing.” And together with the Coalition Avenir Québec and Québec solidaire, he attacked Hamad for his lack of judgment in agreeing to talk with Côté, a former provincial Liberal cabinet minister barred from the federal party in the wake of the sponsorship scandal.
Three weeks ago, Côté was among the seven people arrested (with former deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau) as part of a sweep by the province’s anti-corruption unit, UPAC. He was charged with fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust.
Hamad is expected back at the National Assembly on Thursday.
