QUEBEC CITY - The Parti Quebecois is demanding Premier Jean Charest supply a detailed list Liberal MNAs who have accepted visits to Sagard, Quebec businessman Paul Desmarais's sprawling ranch in the Charlevoix region of Quebec.
PQ MNA Bertrand St-Arnaud, spokesman for Public Safety, said that members of government should exercise the same transparency displayed by President and CEO of the Caisse de depot et placement, Michael Sabia.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Caisse said Mr. Sabia had stayed at Sagard, the ranch owned by the Power Corp. Chief, during the weekend of August 12, 2011, with his wife and daughter.
On Thursday, St. Arnaud said that the Prime Minister recently admitted to having been a guest at Desmarais' ranch on more than one occasion while deputy Prime Minister Line Beauchamp visited twice.
Mr. Charest told Arnaud that he had already answered the questions and once again repeated that he did not discuss any government-related business on his visits.
Francois Casgrain, Lobby Office Commissioner launched an audit after the publication of media reports about Sabia's visit to Sagard.
The audit aims to determine whether Sabia was subject to illegal influences, but the spokesman of the Commissioner, Louise Andree Moisan, did not say whether the audits could also involve elected officials.
Under the law, business representatives who lobby public office holders are required to report their activities.
The procedure said that the Commissioner's audits are used to determine whether an investigation is necessary.
