Believe or not, it has been a full year that Quebec politics have been dominated by demands from all quarters that the premier set up a public and independent inquiry into the construction industry.
It was April 2009 that Action démocratique MNAs first demanded this inquiry with the Parti Québecois and Québec solidaire quickly following. According to polls, so have more than 80 per cent of Quebecers. And so have most organizations in Quebec, opinion leaders, police unions, editorialists, and columnists.
Still, Premier Jean Charest continues to say no. The problem is that this refusal carries a cost as the mounting allegations and suspicions overshadow all else. Those allegations include illegal party donations by businesspeople in exchange for lucrative contracts, subsidies, or permits, influence peddling in the nomination of judges, daycare permits to Liberal donors and organizers, organized crime in the construction industry, etc.
Until yesterday's firing of Family Minister Tony Tomassi, the premier's only gesture was to set up a limited inquiry into allegations by former Liberal justice minister Marc Bellemare - who repeatedly called the premier a liar - that some judges were named after influence-peddling by Liberal donors and organizers. Quebecers were not impressed. They still await the real thing: a full inquiry into the entire mess, including the thorny issue of party financing.
But Charest's refusal of a full inquiry fuels anger and cynicism among many Quebecers who feel, rightly or wrongly, that their government is corrupt. This anger was fed by the recent budget containing an array of increased taxes and fees to hit mostly middle-income and low-wage earners.
So it's no surprise that recent polls indicate a dissatisfaction rate toward the government nearing 80 per cent. Or that the Liberal Party fell to 23-per-cent support among Quebec voters.
In the absence of a full inquiry to separate fact from fiction, the political atmosphere in Quebec has become unhealthy, with a population growing more disillusioned by the day as newspapers and newscasts headline the latest allegation du jour that touches the Liberal Party and/or the government.
On Wednesday, the director-general of elections even announced he'd investigate what I call the "freudian slip- gate" in which three Liberal ministers said that companies could donate money to political parties in Quebec, even though this is illegal.
He is also looking into donations of almost $300,000 to the Liberal Party by employees of four engineering firms to try to find out if the employees were used as company fronts to funnel money into Liberal Party coffers.
The method is well-known. Since only individuals can contribute to a party with a limit of $3,000 a year, some company owners ask family members, friends, or employees to donate in their own names. The company then reimburses them on the sly.
By the way, this ruse to get around the law was denounced by Benoit Labonté who ran alongside Louise Harel in the last municipal election. He alleged the use of company fronts was widespread in provincial and municipal politics.
In 2006, the Moisan report on donations to the PQ by the Groupaction also investigated this practice. So it is well-known and documented, but nothing is being proposed by the government to stop it.
Questions also arise because Liberal Party donations now averaging $8 million a year have nearly doubled since its days in opposition, whereas the PQ actually collects a bit less when it's in power - $4-$5 million a year.
The premier continues to label all the allegations as "unfounded" and a "spectacle."
Well, if so, then why not announce a full public inquiry? If he doesn't, chances are we're entering into our second year of poisoned politics in Quebec.