The second opposition party, the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) is threatening to sue the provincial government, claiming a former party employee stole its confidential financial documents and gave them to the premier’s cabinet.
The CAQ refused to divulge how many financial and strategic party documents were allegedly stolen, but said some of them pertain to the upcoming by-election in Saint-Jérôme.
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The CAQ delivered legal warning letters Wednesday morning to their former employee, Yan Plante, who left the party at the end of July and began working in the premier’s cabinet in August.
The party also delivered a letter to Jean-Louis Dufresne, the premier’s chief of staff.
“We ask Mr. Plante and Mr. Dufresne to give us a statement saying what they did with the documents, who got the documents,” said Simon Jolin-Barrette, CAQ justice critic.
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Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard shot back, saying it was a smear campaign against the government.
“People who believe both in Quebec and Canada do not feel welcome at the CAQ. It’s been said many times and that’s the reason this is happening,” said Couillard.
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“He’s trying to put up some smoke screens around. I want to be very clear: Mr. Plante was hired for his competence, his experience also in Quebec, in the economic sector in Quebec, particularly.”
“He has absolutely transferred no information from the CAQ to us and by the way I’m not interested in any of the CAQ’s information.”
The accusations are serious but the CAQ has not reported the alleged theft to the police, saying they’re considering the option.
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