Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ex-Quebec lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault pleads guilty to fraud-related charges

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Dec, 2014 10:35 AM

    QUEBEC — Former Quebec lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and breach of trust.

    Thibault entered the pleas in a Quebec City courtroom this morning.

    The charges were laid after a joint report filed by former provincial auditor general Renaud Lachance and his federal counterpart at the time, Sheila Fraser.

    The document suggested more than $700,000 in alleged improper expenses had been claimed.

    Thibault held the provincial vice-regal post between 1997 and 2007.

    Her trial heard the money was allegedly spent on gifts, trips, parties, meals and skiing and golf lessons.

    Quebec court Judge Carol St-Cyr ruled last summer against a pair of motions filed by Thibault's lawyer, who argued the case should be dismissed because the accused benefited from royal immunity. Lawyer Marc Labelle contended that meant she was not a civil servant and therefore could not face criminal charges.

    The judge wrote that, according to constitutional law, the lieutenant-governor does not enjoy the same benefits as the Queen.

    St-Cyr also noted that under the Constitution, the lieutenant-governor is a civil servant, adding such an affirmation is even posted on the lieutenant-governor's website.

    Thibault took the stand after the rulings. Before she did, she vowed to defend herself "so the truth can be known.''

    "I am 75 years old and . . . I don't want to leave behind the image of a woman who, after having given everything, tainted an institution as important as that of the lieutenant-governor,'' she told reporters at the time.

    Thibault testified that her days were busy and sometimes she awoke at 2 a.m. to fulfil her duties as the Queen's representative in Quebec.

    "For me, everything was an official function,'' she said repeatedly throughout her testimony, adding her responsibilities went above the official agenda filed as a court exhibit.

    Thibault testified she had little to show financially for her time as vice-regal — a divorce ate into her savings and she now lives on a $30,000 pension.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    New Jersey Gov. Christie meets Harper in Ottawa, lays wreath at war memorial

    New Jersey Gov. Christie meets Harper in Ottawa, lays wreath at war memorial
    OTTAWA — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie emerged today from a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper touting the Canada-U.S. relationship.

    New Jersey Gov. Christie meets Harper in Ottawa, lays wreath at war memorial

    Girl, 12, boy, 14, charged after mom says attempt made to snatch baby: Police

    Girl, 12, boy, 14, charged after mom says attempt made to snatch baby: Police
    TORONTO — A 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy have been charged with abduction, robbery and other offences after a Toronto mother said two young people tried to snatch her baby.

    Girl, 12, boy, 14, charged after mom says attempt made to snatch baby: Police

    Facts about the 14 women who were killed at Ecole polytechnique in 1989

    Facts about the 14 women who were killed at Ecole polytechnique in 1989
    MONTREAL — Dec. 6 marks the 25th anniversary of the shooting rampage at the Universite du Montreal's Ecole polytechnique in which 14 women were killed. In alphabetical order, they were:

    Facts about the 14 women who were killed at Ecole polytechnique in 1989

    New doctors' deal to improve care in rural and remote areas: B.C. government

    New doctors' deal to improve care in rural and remote areas: B.C. government
    Doctors in B.C. have signed a five-year agreement, which the government says will improve care in rural and remote communities.

    New doctors' deal to improve care in rural and remote areas: B.C. government

    Today on the Hill: Amnesty renews call for Ottawa to take in more Syrians

    Today on the Hill: Amnesty renews call for Ottawa to take in more Syrians
    OTTAWA — The push is on yet again to have Canada resettle refugees from the civil war in Syria, even though the Harper government is struggling to live up to the resettlement promises it has already made.

    Today on the Hill: Amnesty renews call for Ottawa to take in more Syrians

    Government to issue special bank note in 2017 to mark 150 years of Confederation

    Government to issue special bank note in 2017 to mark 150 years of Confederation
    OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada will print a special bank note to mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017 — but it will be up to Canadians to say what it will look like.

    Government to issue special bank note in 2017 to mark 150 years of Confederation