PQ wants corruption probe amid latest saga

Opposition parties are pressing the Quebec provincial government to swiftly launch a wide-ranging inquiry into municipal corruption, after two town mayors stepped down temporarily following explosive allegations of influence-peddling.

The mayors of Mascouche and Terrebonne – two Montreal suburbs – stepped aside temporarily in the wake of allegations they broke rules in some dealings with the construction industry.

An investigation by Radio-Canada's investigative program Enquête uncoveredalleged ethics breaches by the longtime mayor of Mascouche, Richard Marcotte.

The program reported last week that Marcotte collected political kickbacks from a housing developer in exchange for contracts, and even asked for a free house.

Marcotte announced Monday he would recuse himself temporarily and has professed his innocence.

Terrebonne Mayor Jean-Marc Robitaille also temporarily withdrew from his post starting Monday, after reports linked him to a local construction entrepreneur who has won several municipal contracts in the region.

The Parti Québécois reproached the Liberal government for dragging its feet in clamping down on ethics breaches. Quebec needs a broad inquiry into corruption, PQ municipal affairs critic Daniel Ratthé said — not random audits of municipalities, as the government has suggested.

"They maybe don't have all the resources [needed] to do that," Ratthé said. "Obviously, we need a combination of inquiries and public commissions" to get to the bottom of the problem.

Quebec is poised to introduce tougher rules for elected officials, Municipal Affairs Minister Laurent Lessard promised this fall.

Pending legislation will include stiffer penalties for politicians caught breaking the rules, including up to 90-day suspensions from work.