It was another tough day on the stand Tuesday for two people who worked within the very close circle of former Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt. 

Former notary Jean Gauthier and ex-general manager Claude Asselin were arrested along with the Vaillancourt last month, and as witnesses, the two remain less than forthcoming.

Once again trying to convince the Charbonneau Commission he knew nothing about collusion and kickbacks, Gauthier insisted he acted simply as a courier for illegal cash donations.

Justice France Charbonneau pressed him on the issue, however, until he finally admitted it was his job to collect 2 per cent kickbacks from engineers on behalf of Vaillancourt’s PRO des Lavallois party.

He testified he couldn’t see what was wrong with it.

“Find me one political party that didn't do it. It was not legal, I agree. It became a normal thing. Just like speeding on the highway, we all drive at 120 when the limit is 100,” he said.

Throughout the day, Gauthier continued to contradict other witnesses who clearly identified him as a man pulling many strings within the illegal financing system in Laval.

He admitted he collected millions of dollars destined for Vaillancourt, but says he was not part of a corrupt system.

"I fully deny being part of the collusion system in Laval, and will deny it until the day I die," testified Gauthier.

The notary says he funnelled cash from engineers and contractors it to the mayor's PRO des Lavallois Party, however he could not explain why engineering firms were giving him money and he claims he never asked questions.

"I played the role of go-between for engineering firms that brought cash, illegal cash from engineers to the party," Gauthier told the Charbonneau Commission, referring to himself as a scapegoat.

Gauthier even tried to claim that he was no friend of the then-mayor.

"I never even sat down for a face-to-face dinner with Gilles Vaillancourt," said Gauthier, although he later admitted that he had gone to dinner at Vaillancourt's home, but said that was before he became mayor.

But on Tuesday the corruption inquiry's lawyers reminded the witness that many other engineers said that Gauthier knew exactly why he was collecting money.

Charbonneau pointedly questioned Gauthier, even asking, "Are you willing to swear the same about never discussing this with Vaillancourt?"

It was only after repeated question that Gauthier admitted that he knew anything illegal was going on, but he then immediately dismissed any possible wrongdoing as the normal state of affairs.

The inquiry wraps up this week before taking a summer break from public hearings, but not before hearing from Claude Asselin, who serves for 17 years as general manager for the city of Laval who also worked for the Dessau engineering firm.

He briefly took the stand Tuesday afternoon to admit he blindly followed orders from Vaillancourt.

“He's a very talented man who is always talking. He has huge qualities; he's a salesman, a manipulator,” said Asselin.

Asselin was one of 37 people arrested in May along with Vaillancourt and charged with a litany of crimes including gangsterism, corruption, and breach of trust.

He was also named this week as a key figure in the warrants that led to the arrest of Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum.