Nathalie Normandeau, ex-Quebec deputy premier, arrested by UPAC

Nathalie Normandeau, former second-in-command in the Quebec Liberalgovernment of Jean Charest,was among seven people arrested Thursday as part of a sweepby the province's anti-corruption unit, UPAC.

• PROFILE:Nathalie Normandeau: Rise and fall of a political star

The multiple arrests targeted members of the Quebec Liberal Party and theParti Qubcois andare related to illegal campaign financing.

"These offencesare serious not only because they're against thelaw, but because they threaten the principles of democracy and thesound management of public funds," Robert Lafrenire, the head ofUPAC, said at a news conference.

"It is unjust and unfair to use public contracts as a political tool."

The arrestscame just hours beforeQuebec'sLiberal government released its 2016 budget.

• A closer look at the Quebec politicians arrested by UPAC
• Philippe Couillard distances himself from Charest-era Liberals in wake of UPAC arrests

Normandeau, who was Quebec's deputy premier under Jean Charest from 2007 to 2011, faces charges that include conspiracy, corruption, breach of trust and bribery in relation to the awarding of a contract to build a water-treatment plant in Boisbriand, Que.

• UPAC arrests: Boisbriand cleaning up its corrupt past

The charges come with a maximum sentence of 12 years.

UPAC wouldn't confirm at the news conference that the charges relate to the Boisbriand water contract, but sources indicated to Radio-Canada that was the case.

According to public documents, Normandeau, who was municipal affairs minister at the time, overruled senior bureaucrats to award the $11-million contract to engineering firm Roche.

Roche also did fundraising for Normandeau during her time as an MNA and Liberal candidate.

Normandeau's name came up frequently at the Charbonneau Commission, the province's corruption inquiry.

Her lawyer,Maxime Roy, said investigators arrived at her home early Thursday morning with an arrest warrant.

"We were surprised by the charges," Roy said. "She has done nothing wrong and we intend to show that."

He added that Normandeauintends to plead notguilty to the charges.

• Nathalie Normandeau's lawyer questions Crown's evidence

Marc-Yvan Ct,aformer Liberal cabinet minister under premier RobertBourassaand vice-president of the engineering firm Roche, and Bruno Lortie, Normandeau's former chief of staff, werealso arrested this morning.

Ctwas also a campaign organizer for the federal Liberals, and was kicked out of the party by former prime minister Paul Martin overthe sponsorship scandal.

FranceMichaud, another former vice-president ofRoche and MarioMartel,a former chief executive officer at the same, were also arrested.

'We've completely changed': Couillard

The arrests represent a blow to the Quebec Liberals, who were dogged by allegations of corruption under Charest.

Premier PhilippeCouillard told reporters in Quebec Citythe Liberal Party has taken steps in recent yearsto crack down on illegal fundraising.

"We've completely changed the way we do things because of laws, because also the way we've done things internally, creating a code of ethics,"Couillardtold reporters in Quebec City.

"Since we've dropped, on top of other measures,the [donation] limit to$100 per person per year, Ican tell you the ambience is totallydifferent. Fundraising is not an issue for us."

• Charbonneau commission: A look back at the explosive testimony and key witnesses

PQ also implicated

Two people with ties to the Parti Qubcois werearrested, including Franois Roussy, the former mayor ofGasp and a staffer for PQ MNAGatan Lelivre.

Ernest Murray, an ex-attachinthe riding office ofPauline Marois, was arrested too.

Prosecutorslaid charges against Rocheearlier this week. The firmhasbeen the target of UPAC raids.