Auditor Report: FitzGibbon asked to disclose the list of 10 companies he likes

Opposition groups called for a halt to the protests, but said that maintaining some independence was not the answer.

Also read: $ 68 million for companies that do not meet the standards

Also read: FitzGibbon confirms that he has no conflicts of interest

“If I start doing that, companies will no longer have IQ. [Le processus d’attribution des aides] It’s confidential and there is no question of revealing the names, ”he said before entering Saloon Blue on Thursday.

In the chamber, Quebec Solidarity spokeswoman Ruba Ghazal was criticized for not understanding “how the system works” after a member accused the government’s parliamentary leader of playing “mansplaying”.

“Here’s how the system works: It is not the ministry that decides whether to lend or not. Investment Quebec (IQ) came up with their recommendations for all the projects, no project was taken that way, so it is very transparent, ”he said.

According to him, the fact that more than $ 25,000 in loans and the names of companies benefiting from emergency programs are mentioned on the IQ website is a matter of transparency.

A secret list

Earlier in the day, the Auditor General revealed that the former businessman had lent $ 68 million to companies that did not meet all selection criteria for emergency relief programs in operation during the epidemic.

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However, he did not disclose the provision that would allow the lender to authorize the loan even if it did not meet the company’s standards, as well as the names of the companies that would receive his blessing.

Opposition parties have stated they will not run in the by-elections on Thursday.

“There are companies that want to know how it works with the finance minister: should you call on his cell phone, work via email, so as not to meet the standards?” The liberal spokesman joked. Economy, Monsieur Derroji.

“The money managed by this minister is not his private money. He has to change the registers, he no longer works in the private sector, ”his solidarity counterpart Ruba Ghazal began.

“Birks jeweler has $ 10 million from the PACTE program to get out of the pandemic,” said Pascal Berube, a PQ member. His hardships were already there. The business is controlled by its parent company in Bermuda. It’s one in 10 [entreprises] Who did not meet the standards and who did? ”

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