Premier Philippe Couillard appears to be distancing himself from Sam Hamad.
The Liberal Party is facing criticism over Hamad's relationship with former Liberal minister and fundraiser Marc-Yvan Coté, who was recently arrested by UPAC on charges of breach of trust, conspiracy and fraud.
For the second day in a row, the Hamad affair dominated Question Period Wednesday, when for the first time, there was an admission from the premier.
Couillard said Hamad should have been more cautious in his dealings with Coté and checked if he was a registered lobbyist.
The former Liberal cabinet minister and fundraiser was, until recently, on the board of a private company called Premier Tech.
E-mails obtained by Radio-Canada's Enquete program appear to show he had privileged access to information from Hamad that helped get government contracts, while he helped organize donations from the company to the Liberal Party.
The e-mails are now being investigated by the ethics commissioner.
Meanwhile Hamad is temporarily out of his cabinet position as Treasury Board president and on vacation in Florida.
“He left Quebec during one of the most important crises taking place,” argued PQ Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau.
Hamad left some of his Liberal colleagues trying to explain his trip down south.
“With everything going on Mr. Hamad said he was burnt out a little bit, he needed some time to rest, and that's understandable for us,” said Liberal MNA Gerry Sklavounos.
Quebec solidaire is now calling for a special multi-party commission to implement recommendations from the Charbonneau Commission.
They say the Liberals can't be trusted to do it alone, and like the PQ, are calling the controversy around Hamad a political crisis.
“It’s a crisis of confidence, among the population. Oh yes. The government has lost credibility. I don't think anybody sincerely has faith that the Couillard government has the ability and the credibility to act alone,” said Quebec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir.
Hamad is expected to return to the National Assembly Thursday.
