In 2017, when he was questioned about the leaks of information on the investigations targeting the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), the head of the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC), Robert Lafrenière, had expressed his disdain in front of the elected officials of the ‘National Assembly. Denouncing this gesture “of total disloyalty”, he expressed the wish to find “the bandit who did this”.
Judging by the work of the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) on leaks at UPAC, Robert Lafrenière saw the bandit every day in the reflection of his mirror. The information made public by Judge André Perreault are not proven facts; they bear witness to the suspicions of BEI investigators. Despite these nuances, the revelations remain troubling in that they portray Mr. Lafrenière as a vile opportunist. He would have “orchestrated a system of leaks” of sensitive information, synchronized with the work of the National Assembly, in order to facilitate the renewal of his mandate and to confer on the UPAC the exclusivity of investigations into corruption in Quebec.
Members of Mr. Lafrenière’s close guard, including investigator Vincent Rodrigue, Inspector André Boulanger and his spouse, Lieutenant Caroline Grenier-Lafontaine, are said to have participated in the undermining work. They even went so far as to trigger an internal investigation into the leaks, diverting attention to other people, such as Liberal MP Guy Ouellette. This one has never been the subject of accusations, he even received an apology from the new direction of the UPAC. If the facts are true, we begin to come dangerously close to breach of trust and obstruction of justice, criminal offences. The consequences of these stratagems were disastrous. These leaks and the misconduct aimed at protecting their authors contributed to the stay of proceedings, for unreasonable delays, in the trials of the former Deputy Prime Minister, Nathalie Normandeau, and the former Vice-President of Roche, Marc-Yvan Cote. They undermined the investigation into the financing of the PLQ, targeting former Premier Jean Charest and volunteer fundraiser Marc Bibeau (Schokbéton).
UPAC is trying to turn the page, not without difficulty. The new boss, Frédérick Gaudreau, struggles to rebuild the unit’s credibility and adapt its methods to the modern demands of the fight against corruption. The unit is also rigorously monitored by an independent committee chaired by Claude Corbo.
Opposition parties with simplistic visions do not see it that way. Thus, the leaders of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, and of the Liberal Party, Dominique Anglade, demanded the dismantling of the UPAC, thereby contributing to undermining the credibility of a squad that Quebec still needed. In this context, the words of Manon Massé are imbued with wisdom. Commissioner Gaudreau has given himself three years, from 2021 to 2023, to rectify the situation. Let’s give him the chance to land “UPAC 2.0”, as the member for Québec solidaire suggests.
As for Robert Lafrenière, he disputes the vision of the BEI vehemently. We challenge him to take his case to court. We, too, implore the BEI to wrap up its job once and for all, because the perpetual investigations, suspicions and unproven case theories in court have a disastrous effect on the credibility of the broader policing organization. Either we accuse the bandits, or we stop letting the doubt hover, which settles permanently with endless investigations.