Former Chambly mayor arrested by UPAC on two charges

Denis Lavoie, former mayor of Chambly on the South Shore, was arrested Tuesday by Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC) for obstruction of justice and breach of trust.
"Mr. Lavoie is accused of having voluntarily attempted to obstruct, divert or thwart the course of justice at the Municipal Court of Chambly, thereby committing an obstruction of justice and a breach of trust by interfering in the affairs of the Municipal Court of the City of Chambly," the Anti-Corruption Commissioner said in a statement.
Lavoie, who was previously an investigator with Quebec provincial police (SQ) and a lawyer, was released on a promise to appear at the Longueuil courthouse on May 10.
The facts he is charged with would have occurred between January 1, 2016, and May 7, 2019.
In 2018, the Radio-Canada program "Enquête" showed examples of interference by Mayor Lavoie in various files.
Around that time, the city had the Boileau bicentennial house demolished, which raised an outcry from many citizens.
The Quebec government placed the City of Chambly under trusteeship in 2019.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, had indicated that this decision followed audits by the Quebec Municipal Commission (CMQ) regarding the management of the city and allegations of ethical breaches.
At that time, UPAC conducted searches at City Hall and other municipal buildings.
Lavoie was first elected mayor of Chambly in 2005. Voters gave him a fourth consecutive term in the 2017 election. He announced his resignation in April 2019 for health reasons due to his throat cancer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 28, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Wildfire smoke from Canada disrupts New York flights
Some flights into the New York City area on Wednesday were delayed and some briefly halted because of reduced visibility from wildfire smoke from Canada.

WATCH | Rate hike 'may be the last straw' for some homeowners: mortgage broker
With the latest hike bringing Canada's key interest rates to levels not seen since 2001, one mortgage broker is warning that it may be 'the last straw' for some homeowners with variable mortgages.
Bank of Canada ends pause on hikes, raises policy rate by 25 basis points
The Bank of Canada raised its overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 per cent on Wednesday, its first increase since pausing hikes in January.
Wrestling icon The Iron Sheik dead at 81
World Wrestling Entertainment legend The Iron Sheik has died. He was 81.
opinion | Eight takeaways from Prince Harry's seven hours on the witness stand
It's been a busy, tumultuous few days for Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex as he took his place on the witness stand in his trial against the Mirror Group Newspapers. Here are royal commentator Afua Hagan's top takeaways from his two-day grilling.
Have rising home prices driven you to leave Canada? We want to hear from you
The Bank of Canada's latest decision to raise its key interest rate comes at a time when many are struggling to afford their homes. CTVNews.ca wants to hear from people in Canada who are going to great lengths to find affordable housing.
Wildfire smoke blankets Ontario, Quebec, air quality plummets, affects activities
Poor air quality is forecast to persist into the weekend across parts of Ontario, as plumes of wildfire smoke blanket the province and prompt school boards to limit outdoor activities.
Calgary mass killer Matthew de Grood seeks 'absolute discharge'
The man who was found not criminally responsible in the stabbing deaths of five people at a house party in Brentwood more than nine years ago is seeking more freedoms.
Canadians want revenge on Bernardo, but that's not how prison works: ex-official
One of the architects of the law that governs Canada's prison system says it's understandable people want revenge on killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, but that's not what the prison system is designed for.