Friends of Nathalie Normandeau raise cash to help her fight corruption charges
Legal defence fund for ex-deputy premier accepting personal donations up to $1K
Friends of Quebec's former deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau in the Gaspé are raising money to help with her legal bills as she prepares to fight a lengthy list of corruption charges.
The fund was started by André Poirier, a local business owner and longtime Liberal, and Fabrice Bourque, a former Liberal riding association president.
They are hoping others come forward to help a fellow Gaspé native.
Marie-Claude Brière, a spokesperson for the fund, said Normandeau's supporters aren't afraid of any potential "backlash" because of the severity of the charges laid against her.
"For 16 years, Nathalie Normandeau was really involved as a mayor and [an MNA] and they were really impressed by all the work she did, so they said, 'let's help her, let's just do it, let's start a foundation, because it's really expensive,'" Brière said.
The fund is accepting personal donations up to $1,000.
Born and raised in the Gaspé
Normandeau was born in Maria, Que., a municipality of about 2,500 people in the Gaspé.
She served as mayor of her hometown before making the jump to provincial politics with the Quebec Liberals.
She served as Quebec's deputy premier under Jean Charest from 2007 to 2011 before leaving politics.
She was arrested as part of a series of raids by Quebec's anti-corruption unit, known as UPAC, in March.
Normandeau faces charges that include conspiracy, corruption, breach of trust and bribery in relation to the awarding of a contract to build a water-treatment plant in Boisbriand, Que.
The charges come with a maximum sentence of 12 years.