Quebec will create a new government agency to monitor how public contracts are awarded, which is one of 60 recommendations in the Charbonneau Commission's final report.
The announcement comes one week after former Liberal Deputy Premier Nathalie Normandeau was charged with fraud and corruption.
Normandeau's arrest, and the arrest of six other people has been a cloud hanging over the Liberals, been causing tension during question period all week.
There are allegations that government contracts were tied to political party financing and CAQ Leader Francois Legault has said repeatedly this week there's still "dirty money" in the Liberal party coffers.
Premier Philippe Couillard said Legault was just slinging mud, and failing to recognize differences in the party since he became leader.
"It's extremely unfair. Vulgar, but also unfair. Because he's also saying this to tens of thousands of our members, volunteers, our members of the Assembly that were elected by the people to a party that I would say now has exemplary practices in fundraising," said Couillard.
With donations to political parties now limited to $100 per person per year and lower fundraising targets for liberal ministers, Couillard said his party “now has exemplary practices in fundraising.”
In an effort to take control of the situation and restore public confidence in government work, on Thursday the Justice Minister, the Transport Minister, the Minister responsible for Government Administration and the Minister responsible for the Reform of Democratic Institutions said they are and have been working toward implementing the recommendations made by the corruption inquiry.
Justice Minister Stephanie Vallée pointed out the recommendations cover more than 15 ministries and organizations, and she says roughly 80 per cent of the recommendations require some kind of legislative changes.
She said the provincial government will table a bill this spring to create an independent body to oversee how public contracts are awarded.
"What we're doing will in part, hopefully, restore [the public's] confidence," said Minister for Reform of Democratic Institutions Rita De Santis.
However Vallée said there is no timeline to implement the full suite of recommendations made by the Charbonneau commissioners.
A new Leger poll finds support for the Liberal Party has slipped to 33 per cent, with the PQ and the CAQ making slight gains. Meanwhile, 79 per cent of Quebecers have little or no confidence in politicians and after Normandeau's arrest, 78 per cent said they expect other politicians will be arrested too.
