The PQ rejects the DGE’s arguments regarding the Grenier commission

Jacques Boissinot Archives The Canadian Press “We have a different appreciation of the strength of the unanimous motions of the National Assembly which are akin to orders from the National Assembly,” commented PQ MP Pascal Bérubé on Tuesday, regarding the point view of the DGE on the documents of the Grenier commission.

The Parti Québécois rejects the arguments of the Director General of Elections (DGE), according to whom a simple unanimous motion from the National Assembly is insufficient to force it to make public the evidence collected during an investigation which found illegal spending during the 1995 referendum.

PQ MP Pascal Bérubé affirms that his opinion differs from that expressed by the DGE during a meeting with elected officials at the end of September.

“We have a different appreciation of the strength of the unanimous motions of the Assembly “which amount to orders from the National Assembly”, he said during a press briefing.

Mr. Bérubé affirmed that his political party, which had initiated the request to which the other parties represented in the National Assembly rallied, will return to the subject in more detail this week concerning the follow-up to be given to the motion and the meeting at the end of September.

“We have a different opinion of what he can do with the powers he has, we asked for different opinions and it will not take long in the coming days,” said – he said.

Le Devoir reported Monday that in his analysis, the DGE affirms that only a law could force him to make public the documents collected by the commissioner- investigator Bernard Grenier in 2006 and 2007.

On Tuesday, Mr. Bérubé acknowledged that the PQ had already raised the possibility of adopting a law last spring.

“This 'is not out of the question, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary,” he said.

Mr. Grenier had been mandated by the DGE to investigate allegations of illegal financing of the referendum campaign.

In his report the investigating commissioner concluded that $539,460 had been spent illegally in 1995 by two federalist organizations , Option Canada and the Council of Canadian Unity.

More details will follow.