Serge LeClerc
Encyclopedia
Serge LeClerc was a pardoned Canadian ex-criminal, former politician and co-author of the autobiography Untwisted.
He claimed to have been one of the most dangerous drug dealers and gang leaders in Canada. While serving in prison for one of his many convictions, LeClerc converted to Christianity, and began turning his life around. His career, aside from politics, consisted of speaking publicly to youth across Canada about his life and writing about his own experiences on such topics as drugs and violence.
LeClerc graduated from the University of Waterloo
with an honours degree in sociology with a minor in social work, and with a social work diploma. He was an associate member of all of the Crime Stoppers chapters in Saskatchewan, and the founder and past director of Teen Challenge Saskatchewan. LeClerc also spoke against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, stating that it puts the rights of the individual (criminal) over the rights of society as a whole. He was elected to represent the electoral district
of Saskatoon Northwest
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
in the 2007 election
, as a member of the Saskatchewan Party
.
received a package containing audio recordings, allegedly of LeClerc, talking about marijuana and cocaine use, as well as sex with a gay man. The transcripts alleged many of the comments were made in the spring of 2009 when the legislature was in session. LeClerc removed himself from the Saskatchewan Party
caucus on April 16, 2010, until he could "clear his name". On April 20, 2010, he announced he would not run in the 2011 provincial election
. The Regina City Police began an investigation on April 21, 2010 but on May 19, 2010 they announced that no charges would be laid.
Members of the Legislative Assembly voted to turn the matter over to the conflict of interest commissioner. LeClerc resigned his seat on September 1, 2010. On November 23, 2010, Saskatchewan's conflict of interest commissioner, Ronald Barclay, issued a report concluding LeClerc had, in fact, engaged in unethical and unlawful conduct while in office. Barclay rejected LeClerc's claim that the audio tapes had been forged, based on forensic analysis done by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
. LeClerc had destroyed the hard drive from his government issue laptop computer, making any forensic analysis of its contents impossible.
A separate report from Barclay averred that LeClerc's constituency assistants did work for his public speaking business during their constituency office hours and using government office equipment. However that did not constitute a conflict of interest. LeClerc maintained that he was innocent of the criminal allegations made against him, and was the victim of a setup. He continued his anti-drug activism.
, where he died on April 16, 2011.
He claimed to have been one of the most dangerous drug dealers and gang leaders in Canada. While serving in prison for one of his many convictions, LeClerc converted to Christianity, and began turning his life around. His career, aside from politics, consisted of speaking publicly to youth across Canada about his life and writing about his own experiences on such topics as drugs and violence.
LeClerc graduated from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
with an honours degree in sociology with a minor in social work, and with a social work diploma. He was an associate member of all of the Crime Stoppers chapters in Saskatchewan, and the founder and past director of Teen Challenge Saskatchewan. LeClerc also spoke against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, stating that it puts the rights of the individual (criminal) over the rights of society as a whole. He was elected to represent the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Saskatoon Northwest
Saskatoon Northwest
Saskatoon Northwest is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It covers the neighborhoods of Lawson Heights, Silverwood Heights and the surrounding area...
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
in the 2007 election
Saskatchewan general election, 2007
The 26th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2007; the writ was dropped on October 10, 2007. The election determined the composition of the 26th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, as a member of the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
.
2010 criminal allegations
On April 16, 2010 the Saskatoon office of the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
received a package containing audio recordings, allegedly of LeClerc, talking about marijuana and cocaine use, as well as sex with a gay man. The transcripts alleged many of the comments were made in the spring of 2009 when the legislature was in session. LeClerc removed himself from the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
caucus on April 16, 2010, until he could "clear his name". On April 20, 2010, he announced he would not run in the 2011 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 2011
The 27th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2011, to elect 58 members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan . The election was called on October 10 by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, on the advice of Premier Brad Wall...
. The Regina City Police began an investigation on April 21, 2010 but on May 19, 2010 they announced that no charges would be laid.
Members of the Legislative Assembly voted to turn the matter over to the conflict of interest commissioner. LeClerc resigned his seat on September 1, 2010. On November 23, 2010, Saskatchewan's conflict of interest commissioner, Ronald Barclay, issued a report concluding LeClerc had, in fact, engaged in unethical and unlawful conduct while in office. Barclay rejected LeClerc's claim that the audio tapes had been forged, based on forensic analysis done by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
. LeClerc had destroyed the hard drive from his government issue laptop computer, making any forensic analysis of its contents impossible.
A separate report from Barclay averred that LeClerc's constituency assistants did work for his public speaking business during their constituency office hours and using government office equipment. However that did not constitute a conflict of interest. LeClerc maintained that he was innocent of the criminal allegations made against him, and was the victim of a setup. He continued his anti-drug activism.
Illness and death
In October 2010, LeClerc announced he had been diagnosed with stomach and colon cancer, and was undergoing treatment in OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where he died on April 16, 2011.