Dupuis denies influence peddling allegations

Quebec's Public Security Minister Jacques Dupuis denied new allegations of Liberal influence peddling on Tuesday. Opposition parties accused the government of ensuring that a firearms permit was issued to a Liberal-friendly businessman, who had complained when his application was denied by police.

Dupuis did not deny reports published in the Montreal newspaper La Presse that he met with Luigi Coretti, president of a private security firm, the Canadian Bureau of Investigations and Adjustments (CBIA).

But, after hearing the man's case, Dupuis said he told Coretti that he couldn't do anything to reverse a decision by provincial police to reject his application for authorization to carry a restricted or prohibited weapon.

"The limit that we cannot cross is to try to intervene in police decisions," said Dupuis. "This is something that I absolutely forbid."

However, Dupuis said he did have his chief of staff, Jocelyn Turcotte, follow-up on the man's complaint.

Shortly afterwards, Coretti was granted a temporary permit.

But, under normal circumstances such a complaint would never make it to the office of a government minister, said Parti Qubcois public security critic Bertrand St-Arnaud.

People have anotherform of recourse should their application be rejected, he said.

"If you don't agree with the decision, you have 30 days and you can appear before a judge. And the judge will decide," said St-Arnaud.

St-Arnaud claims Coretti received preferential treatment because he has donated thousands of dollars to the Liberal Party of Quebec.

On Monday, Premier Jean Charest defended Dupuis, saying that Coretti did not receive preferential treatment. He said Coretti had hired a lawyer and pursued the issue himself.

According to La Presse, Coretti was introduced to Dupuis by former family minister Tony Tomassi.

Earlier this month, Tomassi was fired from cabinet and ejected from the Liberal Party caucus following revelations he had used a credit card belonging to the CBIA for personal expenses, while he was an MNA.

The CBIA, which is currently under bankruptcy protection, received $4 million in financing through a Quebec government investment fund.