Quebec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir has apologized and agreed to an out-of-court settlement to settle a defamation suit laid against him by former Liberal MNA for Nelligan Russell Williams.
Terms of the agreement were not announced but it buried a dispute that began in 2010, one week before the two sides were to appear before a judge in the $125,000 suit.
Khadir was served papers after making several unflattering references to Williams, calling him a “criminal” and holding him responsible for costing $2 billion to the Quebec government.
Williams works as a lobbyist for pharmaceutical companies involved in research and development, an industry that drew Khadir’s wrath because companies cut a secret deal with Ontario in 2009, allowing for lower drug prices than in Quebec.
Khadir apologized to Williams but still has some pointed critiques towards the industry.
“I ensured Williams by letter that our criticisms of the pharmaceutical industry were not aimed at him personally,” said Khadir. “We are criticizing practices of the pharmaceutical industry which costs Quebec taxpayers and Quebec patients literally billions of dollars every year."
Williams could not be reached for comment but issued a statement.
"I have, once again, accepted Mr. Khadir's apology for the defamatory and unfounded comments he made about me. I consider this matter closed."
