Premier says with UPAC probe still underway, public must wait for answers about Guy Ouellette's arrest
'The nature of an inquiry is that things are left hanging.… I wish I could tell you how it’s going to end'
Premier Philippe Couillard said for the time being, he doesn't believe anyone will get any more answers about why a sitting MNA was arrested by Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC) last week.
Couillard told reporters in Quebec City Wednesday that because the UPAC investigation is still underway, he believes both Guy Ouellette and UPAC officials have given as much information as they can about the situation.
"The nature of an inquiry is that things are left hanging.… I wish I could tell you how it's going to end," he said.
Nearly a week after the arrest of Ouellette, who represents Laval's Chomedey riding, both the MNA and UPAC made attempts to clarify the situation.
Granted parliamentary immunity to speak to MNAs with impunity Tuesday, Ouellette said he was the victim of a set-up and accused UPAC of "an attempt at intimidation without precedent."
UPAC directors dismissed Ouellette's version of events, explaining in a rare news conference that followed Ouellette's speech that the arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation into leaked documents tied to Operation Mâchurer, which is looking into the provincial Liberal Party's financing.
Ouellette was released without being charged but removed himself from the Liberal caucus temporarily as he awaits news on whether he will be charged.
Robert Lafrenière, the head of UPAC, said he is "convinced" there will be charges in the case, but that decision lies in the hands of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions. With the investigation still underway, it may be some time before that decision is made — meaning Ouellette could be sitting an independent MNA for weeks to come.
Allegations not addressed
Annie Trudel, a former analyst with the Quebec Transport Ministry, told the Journal de Montreal that she was also arrested by UPAC last Wednesday.
In an interview with the newspaper, she accused Quebec's securities regulator, the AMF, and UPAC of colluding to benefit a private consultation firm.
Many political pundits thought that, having been granted parliamentary immunity Tuesday, Ouellette would address those bombshell allegations, but he did not.
CAQ MNA François Bonnardel said that is worrisome.
"We still have no answers about some questions they gave us," he said.
He said if the Liberals were to hold a committee hearing, MNAs would be able to question Ouellette, Trudel, UPAC and the AMF about the claims.
However, Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Bérubé was less concerned, saying he doesn't believe it hurts Ouellette's credibility that he didn't address those allegations.
"He is a courageous man, he arrested some tough bikers back in the day, he's not afraid of anyone," Bérubé said.
Bérubé said it doesn't seem as though UPAC directors heard National Assembly President Jacques Chagnon's speech, in which he condemned Ouellette's arrest, saying it puts the principle behind the separation of powers at risk.
"It seems like they want to fight."
- The Current: Internal politics and rivalry could be behind MNA Guy Ouellette's arrest, suggests reporter
What it boils down to
Since the news broke on Oct. 25, MNAs have been clamouring for answers that many feel they haven't fully received.
It all boils down to a he-said, they-said situation — who to believe, the politician or UPAC?
For now, what we know is that Ouellette and Trudel were both arrested last Wednesday in Quebec City, and neither have been charged.
Ouellette claims he was framed by UPAC in order to stop him from doing his work. UPAC says he was arrested as part of its ongoing investigation of provincial Liberal Party financing.
National Assembly President Jacques Chagnon said damage was done to Ouellette's reputation that has impeded his ability to do his work.
Fuelling the confusion is the fact that confirmed facts have been hard to come by. UPAC never even acknowledged that Ouellette was the person who was arrested in its raids on Oct. 25 until its news conference on Tuesday, six days later.