No apology from Montreal police union boss for allegations against Quebec Liberals

MONTREAL – The head of the Montreal police union says he won’t apologize or step down after provincial police dismissed serious fraud-related allegations he made about current and former Quebec Liberals.

Yves Francoeur alleged in an interview last April the Crown was ready to press charges against one ex-Liberal and one sitting member of the legislature but was blocked by a higher-up.

One of the Liberals mentioned by Francoeur was veteran cabinet minister Jean-Marc Fournier, who has called on the police union boss to apologize and explain his remarks.

Francoeur told Montreal’s 98.5 FM radio station Thursday his comments were made in good faith and that he would say them again.

He said the information came from six different sources.

The police probe of his claims found no evidence of any fraud or influence-peddling.

A spokesman for Fournier said Francoeur’s refusal to accept there was “no proof” only serves to attack institutions like the Crown and the police officers who investigated his claims.

Fournier hasn’t decided what actions he’ll take next.

One of two other elected officials mentioned by Francoeur, former finance minister Raymond Bachand, said a few weeks ago he may take take legal action.

The other, ex-Liberal minister Claude Bechard, died in 2010.