Confidence in the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) has been undermined and the maintenance of its activities is compromised by revelations indicating that leaks were orchestrated by some of its former leaders, say opposition parties.
The leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Dominique Anglade, said Tuesday that this new information will force the government to question the existence of the police organization.
“We cannot trust UPAC today with the information that is disclosed, impossible,” she said during a press briefing at the National Assembly. […] I have great difficulty seeing the relevance of the institution today given what is on the table. »
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said those responsible for leaking police intelligence to the media must be brought to justice, even if the protection of journalistic sources must be guaranteed.
“However, this will not prevent the questioning of UPAC and then the questioning, now that we know that these actions were taken, of the potentially criminal responsibility of people who sabotaged our justice system. he told reporters Tuesday morning.
New information, made public on Monday, indicates that the former commissioner of UPAC Robert Lafrenière would have orchestrated leaks in the media. These revelations are contained in a decision of the Court of Quebec, rendered in September 2020, which led to a stay of proceedings in the trial of former Liberal ministers Nathalie Normandeau and Marc-Yvan Côté.
In the document, Judge André Perreault accredits the thesis of the Bureau of Independent Investigations, which points in particular to former leaders of UPAC, including Mr. Lafrenière, who defended his integrity on Monday during interviews in the media.
Québec solidaire has shown itself ready to give UPAC a chance because of the changes put in place by the new team that leads it.
“That has to change because UPAC must be a police force on which we can rely,” said MP Manon Massé. And, honestly, they have to meet the highest investigative standards and today there are big questions being asked. »
More details will follow