The Parti Québécois asks the Ethics Commissioner to “shed light” on the financial assistance of $50 million paid by the government to a company one of whose directors is close to Pierre Fitzgibbon.
“We have repeatedly asked that decisions on loans and grants from the [ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation (MEI)] be transparent and be given according to predetermined and objective criteria, and not according to the minister’s whim and preferences. We are once again asking the Ethics Commissioner to shed light on this story,” said PQ MP Joël Arseneau in a written statement sent to the QMI Agency.
- Listen to Yves Daoust’s business segment broadcast live daily at 9 a.m. 35 via :
the Log revealed on Monday that the Quebec government granted $50 million in aid to LMPG, a company whose one of the directors acted as an agent of Pierre Fitzgibbon’s blind trust, when the minister “authorized” the helping the business.
Linkedin screenshot
Lumenpulse Headquarters
According to Mr. Arseneau, it is important that Pierre Fitzgibbon understands that “transparency is no longer optional”, in particular because of the new functions of super-minister that François Legault entrusted to him.
Deja vu, according to QS
On the side of Quebec solidaire, we are sorry for the “impression of deja-vu” that this file gives off. “I know that Minister Fitzgibbon likes to repeat that he knows everyone in the business ecosystem in Quebec, but that does not allow him to cut corners, especially when his friends are involved in transactions with public funds”, declared the deputy Vincent Marissal.
For the time being, the solidarity workers have not taken any steps to contact the ethics and professional conduct commissioner, but they do not rule out doing so, added Mr. Marissal.
No ethical issue, believes Fitzgibbon
According to Pierre Fitzgibbon, the government aid granted to LMPG does not pose an ethical issue. In an interview at the microphone of Philippe-Vincent Foisy on Monday morning, the minister recalled that the administrator of the company left his duties as trustee when the investment was granted to LMPQ, but he wanted to defend the transaction. saying it would have happened anyway.
“It’s a great record, it’s a great company, and we can be proud,” he said.
Mr. Fitzgibbon laments a lack of understanding “of the safeguards that exist” among political commentators, and he maintains that “the process is very rigorous”. Before arriving on his desk, the file would have been studied by Investissement Québec and the Economic Development Fund, underlined the minister.
“There are people who think I sign checks on Monday mornings when I arrive at the ministry. It’s not the same way it works, ”he breathed.
Asked whether he should be particularly careful to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, Mr. Fitzgibbon replied that “it’s easy to criticize when you’re not in it”, ensuring that ” the process is very rigorous”. “The ways of doing things work,” he slipped.
For this reason, the minister does not rule out that there will be “more news like this” in the future.
- Listen to the Know It All segment in 24 minutes with Alexandre Moranville-Ouellet on QUB radio:
In catimini ?
Contrary to their habits, the MEI and Investissement Québec (IQ) published no press release to announce the $50 million transaction, despite its importance. The investment also does not appear in IQ’s most recent annual report.
It’s not that the information was concealed, argued Pierre Fitzgibbon, claiming that Investissement Québec has been “very active” in the past four years.
“Sometimes not all companies want to advertise either. The announcements are the companies that decide, not the government,” said the minister.