Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions is dropping some of the criminal charges against former Liberal deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau.
Five charges of fraud, corruption and conspiracy are being withdrawn, the prosecution service said in a statement to the court Friday.
The Crown intends to proceed to trial on three counts, including breach of trust and municipal corruption.
Crown prosecutor Richard Rougeau told reporters at the Quebec City courthouse that delays in bringing the case to trial had become problematic in light of the Supreme Court's Jordan decision, which established time limits for criminal prosecutions.
Normandeau's lawyer, Maxime Roy, says his client has done nothing wrong and she has been waiting more than three years to answer the allegations.
Normandeau, 51, was an influential minister who served as a Liberal member of the legislature from 1998 to 2011 and held key cabinet positions including municipal affairs, natural resources and Canadian intergovernmental affairs.
She served as deputy premier under Jean Charest's government between 2007 and 2011.
