Former premier Jean Charest played his last cards on Tuesday in a $2 million lawsuit against the state for an invasion of his privacy in the Mâchurer investigation by UPAC.
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“His family was attacked, he was also attacked, it affects him,” pleaded his lawyer Me Jacques Jeansonne, Tuesday at the Montreal courthouse.
Sitting in the courtroom, former Prime Minister Jean Charest listened carefully to the arguments of his lawyer, who is demanding that the state be condemned in civil proceedings, in connection with the leaking of information in the Mâchurer investigation.
In this file where he was one of the subjects of interest, the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit sought to shed light on allegations of illegal financing within the Liberal Party of Quebec at the time when Mr. Charest was leader.
However, this information should have remained confidential, says Mr. Charest, who did not appreciate that the whole thing was revealed in the public square by the Quebecor Investigation Bureau.
“It is clear that the publication of the investigation file relating [à Jean Charest] stems directly from a casting by a member of the Commissioner’s staff, which constitutes an abuse of power in bad faith and recklessness,” the court document reads.
Discreet trial
Initiated in 2020, Mr. Charest’s civil suit finally began to be heard on Tuesday in the greatest discretion. The former prime minister even gave a testimony, where he mentioned, among other things, the harm he says he suffered.
“He obviously felt feelings of frustration and embarrassment at seeing information collected about him repeatedly spread out to the general public,” his lawyers said, adding that the state should be held responsible for the situation.
Personal information
Referring to a “systemic problem of lack of supervision”, Me Jeansonne also demanded on Tuesday that measures be taken to “ensure the protection of personal information” of his client.
“It should never have happened,” he told the court. Just rolling a head at UPAC won’t be enough. »
The trial before Judge Gregory Moore will continue this morning, with arguments from the Attorney General of Quebec, who represents the state.
Note that Mâchurer finally ended last March, without any charges being brought, while an investigation is underway to identify the origin of the leak at UPAC.