Montreal

No evidence of allegations levelled by police union boss against Liberal MNAs, SQ finds

There's no evidence of the allegations levelled by Yves Francoeur, head of the Montreal police brotherhood, against two senior members of the Quebec Liberal Party, an SQ investigation has found.

Yves Francoeur's claims of influence peddling set off firestorm at National Assembly

Yves Francoeur, head of the Montreal Police Brotherhood, alleged two Liberal MNAs should have been charged following an investigation in 2012. (Radio-Canada)

The president of the Montreal police brotherhood rocked Quebec's political establishment earlier this year with allegations that two senior members of the Liberal Party avoided charges of illegal fundraising because of their connections. 

An investigation led by the Sûreté du Québec into those allegations, however, has turned up empty. 

The SQ said Tuesday it's found no evidence to support Yves Francoeur's claims.

Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux ordered the investigation after the police union boss's remarks set off a firestorm of controversy at the National Assembly.

Francoeur contended that two MNAs, who he later identified as one-time finance minister Raymond Bachand and current Liberal house leader Jean-Marc Fournier, were the subject of a police investigation that started in 2012.

He said the investigation linked the two MNAs to an illegal fundraising scheme involving a real-estate company with ties to organized crime.  

Francoeur said charges should have been laid but weren't, because the men were elected Liberal members of the National Assembly.

Fournier and Bachand denied the allegations.

In a statement Tuesday, Francoeur acknowledged the investigation's findings and offered no further comment.