Jacques Daoust's chief of staff gave OK to Rona sale
Emails reveal that Investissement Qubec sought approval from Daoust's office about Rona-Lowe's deal
A series of emails have surfaced thatcast doubt on what JacquesDaoust,the recently resigned cabinet minister, claims he knewabout the sale of Rona to an American corporation.
Daoust, the formerminister of transport, repeatedly denied that he was consulted before the hardware chain's purchase by North Carolina-basedLowe's while he was serving as minister of the economy.
The transaction was criticized by the province'sopposition parties, who wanted the government to protect Quebec businesses from foreign takeovers.
But a series of emails obtained by Radio-Canada show thatDaoust's then chief of staff, Pierre Ouellet, was asked to seek Daoust'spermission for the sale to go ahead.
A vice-president with Investissement Qubec, the provincialdevelopment agency that falls under the authority of the economy minister, emailed Ouelleton Nov. 26, 2014.
"Can you confirm by email replythat the MEIE[Minister of Innovation and Exports] agrees with the sale," the email from Jean-Jacques Carrier reads.
Ouellet replies that he will get back to him "ASAP." Two hours later, Ouellet sends another email. This one simply reads "OK."
When asked about theemails,Couillardacknowledgedtheyraised "serious questions" to which he wants "serious answers, and quickly."
Daoust announced Friday evening that he was stepping down as minister and leaving politics.
'I was never informed of the transaction'
Daoust's story about being out of the loop on the Rona sale was already undermined by an auditor general's report released in June.
Thatreport revealed Daoustattended anInvestissementQubec meeting where the potential sale of Rona was discussed.
According to the auditor general, theminutes of an InvestissementQubecboard of directors' meeting saidthe board received permission to the sell the stocks from the minister in December 2014.
But despite those revelations,Daouststillmaintainedthat he knew nothing about the transaction. Hequestioned the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting.
"I was never informed of the transaction and my permission was never requested. In any case, it was not required. I never gave approval for this transaction," Daoust said in June.
The credibility of his denial now rests onwhetheryou believe his chief of staff, often a minister's most trusted advisor, gaveInvestissementQubec approval for the Ronasale without first consulting his boss.
Serious questions
ThePartiQubcoisis not willing to take that step, and reiterated calls thatDaoust step down.
"Do you still believe your minister after those emails?" PQ MNAAlain Therrien, said in comments directed at Couillard.
"How can a minister with such erraticbehaviour keep his job?"
Daousthas also faced scrutiny for his management of a series of internal scandals in the Transport Ministry.
Ouellet, who followed Daoust when he was shuffled from the economy file, lost his job over allegations he delayed taking action when informed about irregularities in the department.
with files from Radio-Canada
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