Sam Hamad leaves cabinet pending ethics investigation, Couillard says

Sam Hamadhas stepped asidefrom his cabinet positions pending an ethics investigation into his relationship with a political fundraiser who is facing criminal charges.

Premier Philippe Couillardsaid Hamadhimself offered to give up his role as Treasury Board president, as well as several minor portfolios. On Friday Hamadrequested theethics commissioner probe his ties withMarc-YvanCt.

• Sam Hamad received donations from firm tied to Marc-Yvan Ct

Couillard described Hamad's decision as "noble."

"I trust Sam Hamad. My trust in him has not been diminished by the events of the past days," Couillard told reporters in Montreal. He made the announcement just moments after attending a "national" funeral forClaire Kirkland-Casgrain.

Quebec Finance MinisterCarlosLeitaoand Labour MinisterFranoisBlaiswill temporarily take overHamad'sduties.

The Liberal government issued a statement Saturday night, announcingLeitaowill oversee the Treasury Board, while Blaiswillbe responsible for Hamad's riding.

Hamad has been at the centre of controversy since a Radio-Canada program earlier this weekrevealed that he exchanged a series of emails withCtbetween 2008 and 2012.Hamadwasthe minister of labour and theneconomic development in theCharestLiberal government at the time.

Ct was arrested last month, alongside former Liberal deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau, on corruption and fraud charges.

Up until his arrest,Ct wasthe vice-chairman of the board at thefirm Premier Tech. In the emailsobtained byRadio-Canada, itappears that Hamadsought to support the company's interests within the government.

It also appears that Ct receivedstrategic information about government decisionsfrom Hamad.Ctand his family made a largeseries of donations close to $17,000to the Liberals during the period of the email exchange.

Hamaddenies that the emails, or the Radio-Canada report, demonstrate any wrongdoing on his part.

"My reputation is being attacked unjustly," Hamad said in a news release on Saturday. "I repeat, I have done nothing wrong."

Hamad'sresignation is likely to complicate Couillard's efforts to distance himself from the ethical concerns about the previous Liberal governmentraised byNormandeau'sarrest.

The premier has stressed that the Quebec Liberal Party has changed its fundraising policies since the Charest era.

But opposition parties seized onHamad'sresignation to demand more transparency from the Liberals.

"What we should ask is that the premier be able to explain to the population ... how this party is financed," Parti Qubcois Leader PierreKarl Pladeau said.

The PQ's Bernard Drainville also called for Hamad to step down from the Liberal caucus entirely.

Franoise David,Qubec SolidaireMNA and co-spokesperson, wants Couillard to investigate his ministers' behaviour more closely.

"I think the decision is the beginning of a series of good decisions," David said. "But it has go much further than that."