The head of the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) wants major legislative changes and a reorganization of the judicial system so that his organization can deliver results that meet expectations.
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During a round table with a few journalists yesterday, the anti-corruption commissioner, Frédérick Gaudreau, said he was ready to lead the charge to remove the pitfalls which, according to him, hinder the work of his police officers.
UPAC has indeed found itself on the defensive in recent years due to a series of aborted trials, protracted investigations and its difficulty in obtaining the laying of charges.
“Leadership, if there is no one who will take it, I will go to the front. Things have to change, it can’t stay that way, ”said Mr. Gaudreau.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
The anti-corruption commissioner, Frédérick Gaudreau, met the media yesterday in Quebec City following the tabling of the annual report of the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit.
If investigations drag on, according to him, it is partly because of the complexity of the judicial system and the Criminal Code, under federal jurisdiction.
He cites as an example a case in which UPAC had to wait “2200 days” to gain access to search material, while a legal process takes place in order to enforce the confidentiality of lawyer-client exchanges.
No error possible
The commissioner also believes that it is necessary “to review the legislative provisions to better regulate the work of the police officers”.
The latter, for example, cannot make the slightest mistake when taking notes, writing a report or meeting a witness, at the risk of seeing the charges drop.
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Especially since the people targeted by the UPAC investigations often have the means to multiply the requests in order to abort the case.
“They have teams of lawyers who are going to scratch through the cracks in our justice system. “
The big boss cites with a touch of envy the American and British legal systems, in which the police forces “do not necessarily have the same burden in matters of presentation of file”.
“We self-peel-banana. We put barriers ourselves ”, deplores the anti-corruption commissioner.
DPCP team
Frédérick Gaudreau would also like better support from the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), responsible for laying the charges.
“Far from doubting the competence” of this organization, he would however welcome the creation of a dedicated team of prosecutors “who have knowledge of complex fraud”, in order to better advise its investigators.
“Right now, we’re talking to a prosecutor, he’s going to say white. We talk to another, he will say black. We talk to another, he will say gray, ”he laments.
The commissioner says he has arrested the ministries of Public Security and Justice, as well as the DPCP and the Association of Quebec Police Directors to help him in his crusade.
Other files
CHEWING CONTINUES
The Mâchurer investigation into the financing of the Liberal Party of Quebec at the time of Jean Charest is still ongoing.
“People have this perception that we are not putting in the necessary efforts and that we are stretching the sauce. This is not at all our objective ”, assured the boss of UPAC, who compared this affair to an“ elephant in the room ”.
Frédérick Gaudreau ensures that he is putting “a lot of effort” and working in partnership with the DPCP so that this “extremely complex” investigation is brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible.
NOT INTERESTED IN SQ
Mr. Gaudreau does not covet the general direction of the Sûreté du Québec, and says he has not even applied for the post.
His name was circulating among potential candidates to take the place left vacant by Martin Prud’homme last August. However, he said he was “flattered” by the situation.
Note that no merger between UPAC and the SQ is “in the cards”, he said.
A NEW NAME?
In a desire to regain the confidence of the population, UPAC does not rule out changing its name. “This is a question I ask myself every day,” admitted Mr. Gaudreau, who returned the ball to the legislator to decide what to do next.
New name or not, it is essential in his eyes to maintain a police force specialized in the fight against corruption and even says he is open to reviewing and broadening the current mandate of the organization.
INVESTIGATORS 2.0
Mr. Gaudreau intends to hire professionals – accountants, lawyers, journalists, etc. – who will follow a brand new program of the National Police Academy to become investigators. He no longer wants to rely solely on police officers from the gendarmerie. “Finally, we are breaking a model,” he rejoices.
COMMUNICATE “MORE AND BETTER”
The Minister of Public Security Geneviève Guilbault remains convinced of the relevance of UPAC and the “rampart” that it represents, but believes that the organization “would benefit from more and better communication”. In his opinion, “people are impatient and tired of hearing negative things all the time” about this police force.
“I think it’s going to have to change at some point,” she added yesterday.