Sam Hamad denies breaking law amid outcry over email exchange with Marc-Yvan Ct

QuebecTreasury Board President SamHamad has requested that Quebec's ethics commissioner investigate his past relationship with disgraced Liberal political fundraiser Marc-Yvan Ct.

Hamad adamantly deniesany wrongdoing,in the wake of revelations on Radio-Canada's Enqutethat Hamad was a source of strategic information for Ct when he was the vice-chairman of the board at thefirm Premier Tech,helping to advance the company's agenda with the Charest government.

Enquteobtained a string of emails documenting its case, dating back to the period in whichHamadwas the minister of labour and theneconomic development in the Charest Liberal government.

• SamHamadreceived donations from firm tied toMarc-YvanCt
• PhilippeCouillarddistances himself fromCharest-eraLiberals in wake ofUPACarrests

Ct stepped down from his position on Premier Tech's board of directorstwo weeks ago, whenwascharged with fraud and corruption for alleged activities that took place between 2000 and 2012.

Enqute report was 'innuendo':Hamad

Hamad made the rounds ofmorning radio shows on Friday to defend his actions, accusing Enquteofmisinterpreting the emails.

"These aren'trevelations," Hamadtold Radio-Canada."That was innuendo and amalgam and shortcuts in emailsI never wrote."

He denied divulging strategic information toCtand defended his involvement in Premier Tech's request for financial assistance from the provincial government.

"Ifollowed the progress of the file simply because it is a good project for the region," he said.

Hamadsaidhedidn'tcrossanylinesbecausehedidn'tinterveneortrytochangethegovernment's investment decisions.

Hamad added that he didn't knowCt wasn't a registered lobbyist until Thursdaynight'sEnquteinvestigation, saying that it wasn't his responsibility as a minister to verify Ct's status.

A spokesperson forQuebec's Lobbyists Commissioner,FranoisCasgrain,said his officewasaware of theEnqutereport on theemailsbutwould notcomment.

Donations 'never solicited'

On the question ofCt'sdonations to the provincial Liberal party nearly $17,000 altogether fromCtand his family and other political contributions from individuals connected to Premier Tech to the Liberal party and, in some cases, specifically toHamad's riding, the Treasury Board president said he had nothing to do with them.

"That's for [donors]to justify why they made a donation, and what's clear in the emails is that we never solicited them for donations," he said.

Hamadalsostressed several times thatCtwas in no way involved inCouillard'sleadership campaign.

The premier's office saidCouillardwould not be granting interviews today.

For its part, Premier Tech distanceditself fromCt in a statement,sayinghe was never an employee or a leading figurein the company.

The company also said it didn't have a history of making partisan donations, and all electoral contributions were made in "strict compliance with the applicable legislation."

'Serious and concerning'

The opposition Parti Qubcoisand Coalition Avenir Qubechave calledforCouillard to remove Hamad from thecabinet, and they also wantQuebec's ethics commissioner to investigate.

"The facts reported by Radio-Canadaare serious and concerning enough to demand the withdrawal of Sam Hamad from the cabinet," said CAQ treasury board spokesman ric Caire.

"The prime minister must show leadership and set an example of integrity," he added.

PQ LeaderPierre Karl Pladeautook to Twitter, saying Quebecers needthe truth and askingCouillardto have "minimal respect" for Quebecers.

Pladeau told Radio-Canada Friday morning that Hamadhasno excuse for having a working relationship withCt when it was widely known that he was banned for life from the provincial Liberal party.

'Enough is enough!'

Qubec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir took his demands one step further, calling for Hamad's resignation.

"We are facing a blatant violation of the lobbying law and a serious breach of the code of ethics and professional conduct," he added.

But Khadir said he wasn't surprised by the email exchange obtained by Enqute. He comparedHamadtoNathalie Normandeau, a former Liberal cabinet minister who was arrested along withCt by the province's anti-corruption unit.

"How can premier Couillard claim that the Liberal Party has turned the page on the era of corruption as Sam Hamad sits by his side?" Khadir said.

"Enough is enough."

More calls for reviews

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has also called for a review by Quebec's auditor generalof all contractsawarded by Sam Hamad in his capacity as minister of economic development.

"The current president of the Treasury Board, whois supposed to defend the interests of taxpayers in cabinet, is accused of having interfered to help a friend," the federation's statement read.

'The premier must take action to restore the confidence of taxpayers."