Jean-Francois Lisee is firing back Tuesday after being accused of misusing of funds during his time as a Parti Quebecois minister.

Last Friday, current International Relations Minister Christine St. Pierre publicly questioned Lisee's layovers in Paris, noting he visited the city 11 times in 18 months.

Lisee held a news conference Tuesday and, with his spouse Sandrine Perrot by his side, threatened legal action against St. Pierre if she did not publicly apologize.

Lisee explained he met Perrot in Montreal. They started a family and when she got the job of a lifetime in Paris, they decided she would take the job, the kids would move with her, and he would visit.

But contrary to what St. Pierre alleged, Lisee says he never made extra trips to France at Quebec's expense.

He admitted to taking extra private days in Paris with his family, which he says he was allowed to do, and occasionally used a chauffeur on his own time.

But any expense was reimbursed, he said.

“In each instance I asked if there were more costs there were none,” he said.

Lisee said he even saved taxpayers money by flying back in economy twice with his family, even though he is entitled to fly business class.

He says St. Pierre has no proof or no documents to back up her allegations.

“I'm asking the minister to retract fully her statements by this time next week and to issue an apology to my family barring which I will start a suit for defamation,” he said.

Lisee also released some documents and facts that he says shows he did not visit France 11 times on official trips as St-Pierre suggests, but only 5 times.

He said St-Pierre has counted stopovers in Paris as added trips.

Lisee also released documents showing his trips to countries in Africa, as well as Japan and China with stopovers in Paris, generated $110 million in economic returns for Quebec.

Lisee also blasted St. Pierre for dragging his family life into the public eye, a theme Perrot picked up on when she addressed reporters.

“It seemed important to be with Jean-Francois today on this question of integrity on which I know he's really beyond reproach,” she said.

“I wanted to say that I was shocked that my family could be used for political purposes.”

Minister St-Pierre's responded with a statement Tuesday afternoon.

She did not offer an apology, but rather more of an explanation, implying Lisee is responsible for creating a conflict.

Lisee has responded by saying he does not accept her statements as an apology and will give her one week to provide a sufficient response.