QUEBEC - Quebec Premier Jean Charest says he won't be swayed by Opposition calls to testify at legislature hearings into the nearly $40-billion loss posted by the Caisse de depot et placement in 2008.
He is also blaming the Parti Quebecois for a warning on the Caisse issued by bond-rating agency Standard & Poor's. Charest says Standard & Poor's advises against more government interference in the Caisse's operations, something he says the PQ wants.
The government and the PQ are currently at an impasse on how to examine the cause of the 2008 losses by the giant pension-fund manager.
Charest acknowledged today the government bears some of the responsibility for the instability at the Caisse.
He said his government will act quickly to name replacements for eight of 13 board members, a new chairman and a new president.
