Sam Hamad to return to Quebec on Thursday

Sam Hamad was spotted in Florida. (Photo: WINK News)

The Couillard government is on the defensive about Sam Hamad.

Hamad has temporarily stepped aside from his cabinet post as Treasury Board president amid allegations of influence peddling.

He's now under fire for travelling to Florida on Saturday and golfing while the ethics commissioner investigates emails from former Liberal Party fundraiser Marc Yvan Coté.

However, Hamad has cut his vacation short and is returning to Quebec on Thursday, as confirmed by his press attaché Tuesday morning.

Premier Philippe Couillard was grilled about Hamad when he faced the press, saying he never gave the green-light to his minister to head on vacation.

"He announced to us that he was going and he announced to us that he's coming back Thursday which is good." Couillard said adding, “He has stepped aside and it was the right thing to do.”

Cabinet colleague Christine St-Pierre echoed the sentiments.

“I think he took the good decision to come back to Quebec. It is important for him to be here in place to answer the questions of the ethics commissioner,” she said.

House Leader Jean-Marc Fournier defended Hamad’s decision to leave, suggesting critics are being too hard on him.

“He needed some time because, you know, as a human being to see what people say what you are knowing that you are not, that can create a reaction. We are just human beings and he will be back this week,” said Fournier.

Opposition critics said Couillard and the Liberal party have not handled this latest breach in ethics very well.

"It's a total mess in communications," said CAQ leader Francois Legault, referring to Couillard not saying much about Hamad until Saturday, when he was attending the national funeral of Claire Kirkland-Casgrain.

He said that letting Hamad leave the country and maintain his ministerial privileges, was not appropriate.

He needs to "make a strong a move right now to rebuild the confidence of Quebecers," said Legault.

PQ MNA Agnes Maltais agreed, saying it was inappropriate to “go lounging in the south to play golf while one is under investigation,” she said.

Two weeks ago Coté, a former Liberal cabinet minister barred from the federal party in the wake of the sponsorship scandal, was arrested and charged with fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust.

Last week the Radio-Canada program Enquete reported on emails sent by Coté and his former co-workers at Premier Tech concerning Sam Hamad.

The emails, written in 2010, discuss "Our friend Sam," and how Hamad was making calls on Premier Tech's behalf to the Economic Development Minister and the president of Investissement Quebec.

Hamad never wrote the emails in question.

The report also says Coté helped Hamad raise funds for the Liberal party.

One of Coté’s co-accused, who is also charged with breaking rules about fundraising for political parties, is Nathalie Normandeau, the former deputy premier under Jean Charest.