This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
Canada: 
Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
The former head of the Quebec Federation of Labour, Michel Arsenault, testified in front of the notorious Charbonneau Commission today. The questioner, lawyer Sonia Lebel, directly asked Arsenault to precisely describe his relationship with Tony Accurso, who is an infamous entrepreneur facing hundreds of fraud charges, catching Arsenault off guard. Consequently, he replied that he still has lunch with Accurso on occasion, but doesn’t consider him a friend.
Arsenault was leader of the QFL (known as the FTQ in French) from 2007 until 2013, hence his name was being recurrently used at the inquiry into corruption in the construction industry. Thus, he was summoned to take stand on Monday, however Arsenault persistently attempted to dodge giving direct answers to questions. Instead, Arsenault defended the ‘success’ of the QFL and its investment fund, asserting that it had excelled in creating employment for Quebecers.
When inquired if he used his company’s success, and the 600,000-strong QFL membership, to manipulate political events in Quebec, Arsenault calming replied “well, it’s an advantage.” He elucidated that being the leader of QFL, it was easy for him to keep in touch with politicians. Though he highlighted that it could not be abused as he explained saying “of course, if you start calling the ministers all the time then after a few weeks they’ll get together and they will no longer speak to you.” Arsenault has been recently accused of planning to pressure Parti Quebecois leader, Pauline Marois, to stop demanding an inquiry into corruption in 2009.
Be the first to comment