Cabinet minister Sam Hamad to step down temporarily

MONTREAL – Sam Hamad, the Liberal Party National Assembly member who has been under fire over allegations of influence peddling, is stepping down from the cabinet temporarily.

Quebec premier Philip Couillard made the announcement Saturday, following Claire Kirkland-Casgrain’s funeral in downtown Montreal.

“I have total trust in his integrity, in his capacity to serve Quebec,” said Couillard. “For the duration of the inquiry Mr. Hamad, very wisely, has decided to step aside.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I have total trust in his integrity, in his capacity to serve Quebec," said Couillard. "For the duration of the inquiry Mr. Hamad, very wisely, has decided to step aside."

Hamad will retain his status as the minister for the riding of Louis-Hébert in the Quebec City region.

Hamad is stepping aside after the ethics commissioner overseeing members of the National Assembly said it would conduct an investigation into allegations of influence peddling.

“My integrity is unfairly under attack,” Hamad said in a staement. “I have done nothing wrong, I was only doing my job as a minister to promote Quebec industry and promote job growth.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "My integrity is unfairly under attack," Hamad said in a staement. "I have done nothing wrong, I was only doing my job as a minister to promote Quebec industry and promote job growth."

Premier Couillard has been under heavy criticism to expel Hamad after allegations of influence peddling surfaced in the French television show “Enquête” on Mar. 31.

Hamad will be under investigation for his role in helping Premier Tech, a horticulture firm based in Rivère-du-Loup, potentially receive financial support from the provincial government in acquiring a competitor.

In the end, Premier tech’s plans for acquiring the company were abandoned.

Emails reveal Hamad disclosed privileged information to Premier Tech while the Treasury Board  was deliberating on its decision.

Opposition groups, the Parti Quebecois and Colation Avenir Quebec, said Hamad unfit to serve as a member of the National Assembly.

“Unfortunately it took 48 hours for this decision to arrive,” said opposition leader Pierre Karl Péladeau. ” What we should ask is if the Premier will be able to explain to the population what is the rule, what are the wherewithal of how this party is financed.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Unfortunately it took 48 hours for this decision to arrive," said opposition leader Pierre Karl Péladeau. " What we should ask is if the Premier will be able to explain to the population what is the rule, what are the wherewithal of how this party is financed."

*With files from La Presse Canadienne