CORRUPTION AND POLITICS

Politicians don't like it because it reflects badly on the incumbents. Opposition politicians however may see things a little differently. Last Saturday's Waterloo Region Record on page A3 has a story titled "Quebec corruption fighter may shake up election race". Unfortunately the Record don't appear to have this story on line for me to provide a link to.

Jacques Duchesneau is the former Montreal Police chief. He was hired by the Quebec Liberal government to produce a report on illegalities within the Quebec construction industry including illegal funding of political parties as well as bilking of the public purse. This Mr.Duchesneau did but apparently it was a little too sensitive or embarassing for the government who sat on it. Then it suddenly appeared in the hands of the media last fall. Now Premeier Charest has deemed it necessary to call a public inquiry. It turns out that it was the same Mr.Duchesneau who provided the report to a journalist. He claims that he was convinced that the Liberal government wouldn't do anything with it. Ouch!

At this point in time speculation is that Mr. Duchesneau will be running in the upcoming Quebec provincial election under the new Coalition Party. Mr. Duchesneau has two crime reports of which the one still has not seen the light of day. He ties in the construction industry with the Mafia and with illegal political funding. This could be a most interesting upcoming provincial election. Usually in politics bought and paid for consultants stay that way but every once in a while a refreshing surprise comes along.