UPAC denies arrest of Guy Ouellette was 'attempt at intimidation'

Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC) held what it called an "exceptional" news conference Tuesday, denying embattled MNAGuy Ouellette's version of events, made in an unusual speech to the National Assembly earlier Tuesday afternoon.

Ouellettetold fellow MNAsthathe was the victim of a set-up andaccused UPAC of"an attempt at intimidation without precedent."

Flanked by UPAC's operations directorAndr Boulanger and Marcel Forget, thecommissioner in charge ofcorporate integrityaudits, the head of UPAC, Robert Lafrenire, begged to differ.

To Ouellette's charge of having been set up by UPAC, Lafrenire said, "It's an investigation technique of using bait, and not I'm borrowing from Mr. Ouellette'sterms a framing."

Boulanger described the technique as a "test of integrity."

'Convinced' charges are pending

Much has been made of the fact that no charges were laid after Ouellette was briefly detained last week, then released later that day. However, Lafrenire made it clear that the investigation is continuing.

"I am absolutely convinced that there will be accusations in this case,"Lafreniresaid, although hewould not specify against who he believes charges maybe brought.

He added it was up to theDirector of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) to approvecharges.

Boulanger explained that thearrest of Ouelletteand of former Transport Ministry analyst Annie Trudel last week were unexpectedbut resulted from normal police procedures as UPAC carried out authorized search warrants.

He said they were aresult of information gathered in UPAC'sOperationMchurer investigation, which is looking into the provincial Liberal Party's financing.

Lafreniresaid the arrests are part of a probe into leaked documents about OperationMchurer but that they had nothing to do with adopting ISO standards for anti-corruption, which would affect UPAC,as Ouellette has proposed.

He acknowledged UPACis not immune to corruption and that, in fact, the unithas beeninvestigating someone on its team as part ofMchurer.

'Attack on democratic process,' says Ouellette

Ouellettespoke to the National Assembly at 2:30 p.m., two hours before UPAC'snews conference.

"Stopping members of the National Assembly from exercising the mandate they were elected for is an extremely serious attack on the democratic process,"Ouellettesaid in his remarks, made only after he received permission from Jacques Chagnon, the president of the National Assembly, to speak with impunity.

• Quebec government asks auditor general to probe allegations against anti-corruption unit
• From super-cop to suspect: The shocking turn in Guy Ouellette's political career

Prior to Ouellette'sfour-minute address, Chagnonaddressed the legislature himself, condemning Ouellette'sarrestin the strongest language.

"I will fight for every one of you if you were a victim of intimidation," Chagnontold MNAs.

Chagnonalso challenged UPAC toexplain its actions, given that thedamage to Ouellette's reputation as a result of his arrest has impeded his ability to do the work he's elected to carry out.

"Police bodies and their units must be held accountable to their political leaders and to the legislature, if not, the riskof a totalitarian drift increases," Chagnon said.

Embattled Guy Ouellette addresses the National Assembly

7 years ago

Duration 1:34

The Quebec MNA arrested last week by the province's anti-corruption unit has accused the organization of "an attempt at intimidation without precedence."

Ouellette had voluntarily withdrawnfrom the Liberal caucus last Wednesday in the wake of his arrest.

The MNA for Chomedey and a formerSretduQubecinvestigator said he believedhe was arrested because he had been informed ofirregularities in the wayUPACwas applying its own rules of governance.

Following Ouellette's speech, Quebec Premier Philippe CouillardandParti Qubcois leaderJean-Franois Lise also addressed the assembly.

"An MNAwho isthe chairof a parliamentary committeewhose mandate includes watching over a police body is arrested by the very same police body, without clarification for the motive of the arrest," said Couillard.

"It's a grave and excessively serious event, if we're to sum it up."

Lise asked that UPAC commissionerRobert Lafrenire be brought to answer MNAs' questions in the assembly, saying, "We're wondering who is watching the watchers."

But Couillardsaid it wasn't a realistic request because it could jeopardize the justice process.

Bombshell allegations

In an interview that aired Monday on French-language radio station 98.5,Ouellette said he was framed and that his arrestwas an orchestrated attempt by UPAC to discourage MNAs from scrutinizing the police unit.

The same day, a former analyst with the Quebec Transport Ministry accused the AMF, Quebec's securities regulator, and UPAC of colluding to benefit a private consultation firm.

Annie Trudel is quoted in the Journal de Montral saying Ouellette also has information on the scheme. None of theallegations have been verified by CBC/Radio-Canada.

• Investigators devised sting operation to arrest Quebec MNA, Radio-Canada says

UPAC hasn't commented on those claims,and the AMF categorically denies them. Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux has asked the province's auditor general to look into the allegations.