The Canadian Press

Former Via head loses attempt for compensation over sponsorship firing

Tue Jul 22, 8:04 PM

By The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - A former Via Rail executive who was turfed in the wake of the sponsorship scandal has lost a legal battle for compensation.

Quebec Superior Court Judge Benoit Emery ruled last week that the federal government did nothing wrong when it fired Marc LeFrancois as president of the Crown corporation in 2004. LeFrancois was seeking $2.7 million for wrongful dismissal, claiming his firing was abusive and without merit.

He was also seeking compensation for damages to his reputation.

Paul Martin's Liberal government axed LeFrancois after he was fingered in an auditor general's report for providing fake invoices for advertising work.

In his ruling, Emery said he found LeFrancois to be "vague and evasive" during his testimony.

Six people have been arrested so far in an ongoing investigation by the RCMP in the sponsorship scandal.

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