Parties seeking donations from engineering firms were usually not concerned about the political leanings, or legality of where the money came from, the Charbonneau Commission heard Monday.
The corruption inquiry questioned former engineering firm vice-president France Michaud about her ties to alleged criminal activities that took place in Boisbriand.
Her firm, Roche, raised hundreds of thousands for all the major parties.
Political parties essentially lined up outside the offices of Roche engineering, begging for campaign contributions for more than a decade.
Michaud testified that the buck stopped at her door.
“I was put in charge because I knew when to say no,” she said.
A chart illustrated how parties in power usually received much more money. By law, however, companies can't donate money; it must come from individuals.
Roche instead refunded staffers making political donations, which is illegal. Political parties usually didn't want to know how the money was raised, said Michaud.
“They were reaching out to Roche and my network,” she said.
The Liberals party’s fundraiser was Violette Trepanier, while the PQ's was Ginette Boivin.
The PQ was suspicious at first, testified Michaud.
"The rumours were rife that all the employees at Roche, we were all painted red. I wanted to explain to Mme. Boivin that there are X number of employees, I don't remember exactly at the time, and they represent all Quebecers," said Michaud.
Michaud convinced the PQ to accept their money.
Both Boivin and Trepanier would later be fired by their respective parties for illegal fundraising activities.
Michaud was arrested in February 2011, along with other engineers and several municipal politicians in the suburb north of Montreal, as part of Operation Hammer.
She is charged with fraud, influence-peddling, and other crimes for allegedly working with then-mayor Sylvie Saint-Jean to rig bids for construction projects.
Following her arrest, Michaud was paid for two years by her firm, Roche, before being let go.
