Transportation Minister Laurent Lessard returned to the National Assembly Thursday and walked into the middle of a storm of controversy.
Earlier this week he was called out for possibly interfering with provincial grants given to social housing group that employs his wife.
On Thursday there were fresh revelations that former Liberal party fundraiser John MacKay was the head of Quebec Housing Society (SHQ), while it gave $12.7 million to the organization that employed Lessard's wife, Johanne Binette.
This took place while Lessard was municipal affairs minister.
In Question Period, Eric Caire of the CAQ blasted the latest Liberal scandal, saying that MacKay's appointment was a reward.
"It was a partisan appointment based on his being a good Liberal," said Caire.
The leader of the Coalition Avenir Quebec brought the topic up again outside the chamber.
"The only qualification Mr. MacKay had is he was a good Liberal. Was it a decision of Mr. Couillard or Mr. Lessard? I think right now we need to have some answers," said Francois Legault.
Quebec Solidaire is also pressing the Liberals about MacKay, Lessard, and others, especially following the events regarding former CAQ employees who were working for, or hoping to earn a position with, the Liberal party.
"We have questions about the premier and his capacity to judge the people around him," said Quebec Solidaire MNA Manon Massé.
Lessard said all of the criticism is a witch hunt, and that he did not know MacKay at the time he was hired.
"This is what has happened since I became the minister of transportation. Opponents have placed a target on my back," said Lessard.
For now, Premier Couillard said he continues to be satisfied in Lessard's performance.
