Former Quebec deputy premier denies role in dodgy donations

Quebec's former deputy premier defended herself on Wednesday from the latest volley of provincial corruption allegations, dismissing the ideashe could be swayed bygifts of roses and Celine Dion concert tickets and disavowing any role in possible schemes to skirt political-donation rules.

Nathalie Normandeau issued a curt statement following explosive allegations made last Thursday at the Charbonneau commission, but only revealed on Tuesday when a publication ban at the corruption inquiry was partially lifted.

The former Liberal deputy premier, now out of politics,said she was never influenced by gifts delivered by a onetime construction boss. Star witness Lino Zambito, who was vice-president and co-owner of thenow bankrupt Infrabec Construction,told the inquiry that he sent Normandeau 40 red roses on her 40th birthday, as well as tickets to a Celine Dion concert and a Madonna show.

Normandeau attended the August 2008 Dion concert with some of her staff at the Zambito family's corporate box at the Bell Centre in Montreal.Zambito was there, and he testified that at the intermission, another cabinet minister, Michelle Courchesne, showed up with Laval Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt to say hello. Zambito said he didn't have Normandeau's ear for long.

"The moments that I was able to chat with her, it was nothing really serious. There wasn't any particular subject we talked about," he told the inquiry.

Zambito said hesubsequently sent Normandeau's officetwo tickets to a Madonna show that summer, but the minister never used them and gave them to a staffer instead.

"I always approached my job dutifully[and] I won't let anyone question my integrity," Normandeau said Wednesday in her statement.

Fundraising allegations

Zambito also told the inquiry that,before hosting Normandeau in his family's corporate box, the Quebec LiberalParty had beenkeen to have him organize a fundraising event headlined by Normandeau.

He said he put together such a dinner in January 2008at arestaurant hisuncle owned in Laval,which raised $110,000 from fellow construction entrepreneursand engineering firms, largely bypumpingdonations throughfront peopleto circumvent Quebec's electoral contribution limits. Admission cost $5,000 a head, he said, whereas the law at the time limited individual donations to $3,000for each candidateand party.

In the Liberals' financial returnfor 2008, the party indicates that the event only raised $77,500, and that tickets cost $1,000.

On Wednesday, Normandeau denied knowing anything about illegal fundraising, saying she participated in numerous events but never had a hand inplanning them.

"Like many of my cabinet colleagues, Ihave beencalled on to participate in fundraising activities as a guest or speaker. Over the years, I took part in dozens of events of this type in various Quebec regions. But I was never involved in organizing them," the ex-minister's statement said.

Liberals defend financial practices

The provincial Liberals arealso firmly defending their reputation in the wake of the latest allegations. The party's interim leadersaidWednesday he's spoken with party officials and has been told that illegal fundraising tactics were never used or tolerated.

Jean-Marc Fournieradded thathe's asked party officials to examine whether new control mechanisms are necessary to ensure donations are clean.

Fourniersaid the party will also be seeking participant status before the Charbonneau inquiry. He urged that the inquiry be allowed to conduct its work before conclusions are drawn.

None of Zambito's allegationshas been proven in court.