Faced with the filing of a petition to annul the trial of Nathalie Normandeau, the opposition insists that the former Deputy Premier not escape justice.
Her lawyer on Friday referred to the Jordan decision to ask for a stay of proceedings. According to this decision of the Supreme Court, the maximum time for a trial - from the laying of charges to its conclusion - is set at 18 months for cases before provincial courts and at 30 months for cases before superior courts or requiring the holding of preliminary inquiries.
Nathalie Normandeau was arrested in March 2016; It has now been 21 months since the charges were laid. Her trial in the Court of Quebec is to begin April 9 and the Crown believes it will stretch over four months.
Quebec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir mourns that budget cuts and government inaction have placed the justice system in such a vulnerable position.
He said he hoped the magistrates who will determine whether the case is in exceptional circumstances are aware of the "explosive" nature of the case.
Nathalie Normandeau faces charges of conspiracy, corruption, fraud and breach of trust with five co-defendants, namely former chief of staff Bruno Lortie, Marc-Yvan Côté, Mario W. Martel and France Michaud de Roche and the former mayor of Gaspé, François Roussy.
"We will judge very severely those who take such a foolish decision that allow Ms. Normandeau to get away with it," warns the MNA for Mercier.
The PQ's justice spokesperson, Véronique Hivon, for her part wrote on social media that "Quebecers can not tolerate a stay of proceedings."
She invited Prime Minister Philippe Couillard and the Minister of Justice, Stéphanie Vallée, to "show determination to ensure that this trial is held".
Amir Khadir believes that it will be necessary to revise the timetable or even use the derogation clause to avoid the Jordan decision to ensure the holding of the trial since it could highlight the roles of the Liberal House Leader, Jean-Marc Fournier, and former Premier Jean Charest.