Quebec will not have to pay former premier Jean Charest $700,000, a judge has ruled.
The decision comes after Charest filed a lawsuit against the province for breach of contract. He claimed that he was owed the money for legal fees incurred during the investigation into corruption allegations against him.
However, Quebec Superior Court Justice Claude Dallaire dismissed the lawsuit, stating that Charest’s contract did not explicitly state that the province would cover his legal fees in the event of an investigation.
Charest’s lawyer argued that the former premier had an “implied contract” with the province, as it is common practice for governments to cover legal fees for public officials facing allegations related to their duties.
But Justice Dallaire disagreed, stating that there was no evidence of such an agreement in Charest’s contract.
The decision was welcomed by Quebec’s current premier, François Legault, who stated that the province should not have to pay for Charest’s legal fees.
Charest was investigated for his alleged involvement in the corruption scandal known as the “Charbonneau Commission,” which looked into illegal political financing and collusion in the construction industry.
He was cleared of all charges in 2018, but the investigation cost taxpayers over $30 million.
Charest’s lawyer has stated that they will be appealing the decision.
This ruling serves as a reminder that public officials must be held accountable for their actions and that taxpayers’ money should not be used to cover their legal fees in such cases.
