Former PQ leader Boisclair to meet reporters Monday to address cocaine comments

MONTREAL – Former Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair is to meet reporters in Montreal on Monday to address comments that drew links between a government subsidy and his past use of cocaine.

Boisclair, who is currently Quebec’s delegate-general in New York City, made the announcement on Twitter.

A former construction boss testified at the Charbonneau Commission into Quebec’s construction industry that Boisclair authorized a $2.5-million subsidy in 2003 for a project involving a company that had ties to the Hells Angels.

Boisclair was a PQ cabinet minister when he gave the green light to the subsidy just days before a provincial election won by the Liberals.

Jacques Duchesneau, a Coalition member of the legislature, drew links this week between the criminal organization and the fact Boisclair has admitted to using cocaine before.

That prompted Boisclair to threaten Duchesneau with legal action if he didn’t retract his comments. Duchesneau in turn said he had no intention of withdrawing the remarks.