An extensive investigation spanning several years into leaks from within Quebec’s anti-corruption unit to journalists has concluded without any charges being brought.
The Quebec prosecutor’s office has announced that no criminal charges will be filed after examining the evidence gathered by the province’s independent police watchdog.
The investigation centered on leaks to the media in 2017 regarding a probe by anti-corruption police into alleged illicit Quebec Liberal party financing during Jean Charest’s tenure as party leader and premier.
Quebec’s police watchdog probed the leaks and looked into whether the anti-corruption unit had engaged in criminal activities while attempting to identify the sources who spoke to journalists about the Charest case.
In a development in April 2023, a court directed the Quebec government to compensate Charest with $385,000 — despite him never facing charges — citing the harm caused to his reputation by the leaks.
Following the decision by the prosecutor’s office, the watchdog has formally closed its investigation into the anti-corruption unit.
