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.
