Sam Hamad heads to Florida amid ethics questions

Sam Hamad, who has temporarily stepped aside from his post as Quebec's Treasury Board president,is seeking refuge in Florida as questions swirl at homearound his relationship with a disgraced former Liberal fundraiser.

"I'm not running away," he said in a short phone conversation with Radio-Canada.

"I left to refuel. I'm burnt out. It's not easy what I'm living."

Hamadhas been dogged by questions since Thursday when Radio-Canada revealed Hamad received donations from a firm tied to disgraced Liberal fundraiser Marc-Yvan Ct.

Emails show the then-minister for economic development was a source of strategic information for the company, Premier Tech.

Hamad says he has done nothing wrong and calls the allegations an unfair attack.

After the report aired, he asked the ethics commissioner look into the allegations.

"My sole objective is to collaborate with the ethics commissioner. I'm waiting for his call. I hope to speak with him as soon as possible," he said.

After the funeral of Claire Kirkland-Casgrainin Montreal onSaturday,the Premier announced Hamad would step aside from his role as Treasury Board President temporarily.

Quebec Finance MinisterCarlosLeitaoand Labour MinisterFranoisBlaiswill temporarily take overHamad'sduties.

Philippe Couillard said he still trusts Hamad.

Parti Qubcois MNA Jean-Franois Lise said making the announcement after the funeral was disrespectful.

He added that it's unacceptable Hamad continues to make a minister's salary and that the premier accepts Hamad's decision to takeoff to Florida this week, as the National Assembly reconvenes tomorrow.

"The only worse possible scenario is if he was in Vegas. Maybe he didn't think of that,"Lise told reporters on Monday.

Former premier Jean Charest, who was in Montreal onMonday to deliver a speech at McGill University, was asked by reporters to comment on the matter involving his former transport and economic development minister.

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"I think Mr. Hamad did the right thing when he took the initiative initiative to ask the ethics commissioner look into it," Charest said.