Nathalie Normandeau sues Cogeco for wrongful dismissal

Quebec's formerdeputy premier Nathalie Normandeau is seeking $772,500 fromCogeco Media, claiming she was unfairly dismissed by the company after she was arrested by the province's anti-corruption unit.

Normandeau worked as a radio host in Quebec Cityat FM93. She was fired shortly after her March 17 arrest.

In a lawsuit filed at Quebec Superior Court,Normandeausays the presumption of innocence must prevail.

Normandeau, who was Quebec's deputy premier under Jean Charest from 2007 to 2011, faces charges that include conspiracy, corruption, breach of trust and bribery in relation to the awarding of a contract to build a water-treatment plant in Boisbriand, Que.

The charges come with a maximum sentence of 12 years.

Normandeau is seeking to reclaim her salary for a contract signed through 2019, along with punitive and moral damages totalling $150,000.

Normandeau, a former Liberal MNA,cabinet minister and the second-in-command under formerpremier Jean Charest, was arrested as part of a series of UPAC raids in March.

She is due back in court in July.