QUEBEC CITY – For the first time, the analyst who blew the whistle on corruption allegations at Transports Quebec was heard at the National Assembly.
Annie Trudel was hired by former Quebec Transport Minister Robert Poëti to investigate suspicious actions within his ministry.
She quit out of frustration, later claiming documents she submitted to the government committee on public administration had been tampered with.
READ MORE: Transport Quebec corruption documents not yet public
Wednesday evening, Trudel appeared before the Public Administration Committee.
“I’m relieved to be in front of you to shed light on what’s been making headlines,” she told the committee.
UPAC, the province’s anti-corruption squad, is currently conducting 10 investigations into corruption in the transport ministry, based on documents Trudel provided on a USB key.
“Did Transports Quebec manipulate the USB key?” PQ MNA Martine Ouellet asked.
“Yes,” Trudel replied.
Opposition parties have accused the Liberals of being involved in a cover-up, but the government says it is responding to the allegations.
READ MORE: UPAC, Auditor General investigate falsified documents in Quebec’s transport ministry
Trudel testified alongside Transports Quebec’s director of internal audit, Louise Boily, who claimed the reports she prepared were doctored too.
Boily said she told the deputy minister, Dominique Savoie, who was relieved of her position when the allegations became public.
Savoie now works in the premier’s executive council.
“Nothing in what we’ve seen in the last 10 days is any indication that those in charge are willing to be transparent,” said Québec Solidaire MNA, Amir Khadir.
Wednesday, the government tabled a bill to create an independent Public Markets Authority, a watchdog of sorts.
“This authority would have the ability to do two things: to answer complaints from businesses that feel excluded from the process, and, in its own right, to initiate investigations,” Finance Minister Carlos Leitao explained.
“What we are doing here, what we are putting in place here is unique in Canada.”
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