Quebec’s biggest union leader resigns in controversy

MONTREAL – The head of Quebec’s biggest union has resigned, one day after an investigative report into his dealings with Premier Pauline Marois.

That report by Radio-Canada was just the latest difficulty to befall Michel Arsenault, chairman of the FTQ.

He is about to appear at the Quebec corruption inquiry on the heels of wiretap testimony that suggests he was aware of the union’s ties to organized crime.

Arsenault says he’s eager to tell his side of the story — and defend the performance of the $9.3 billion union-investment fund that was allegedly targeted by mobsters.

He says his resignation has nothing to do with revelations at the Charbonneau inquiry, and that at 63 years of age he’s done his duty and wants to spend more time with his family.

He also denies that there was anything untoward about his dealings with Marois.

Radio-Canada reported that in 2008-09, he met with Marois twice just after the FTQ fund invested $3 million in a company part-owned by Marois’ husband.

The network reported sources saying they doubted the value of the investment, which lost money, and believed it was being made to curry favour with Marois before she became premier.

None of those sources spoke on the record.

Marois denied raising her husband’s project with Arsenault. And Arsenault, for his part, said he regularly meets with politicians to discuss a variety of topics.