"She was selected by the chief of staff, which is normal in the case of political attaches," [Pierre Marc Johnson] said. "She was hired on the basis of her talent."

Parti Québécois Leader Andre Boisclair said people may question Johnson's impartiality because he was associated with the PQ but also because he recently came out in support of Bachand in a provincial byelection.

Action democratique du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont said Johnson is partly to blame for the lack of financing for transport infrastructure in Quebec because he was a PQ cabinet minister for several years, PQ leader between 1985 and 1987, and premier briefly in 1985. The overpass was built in 1970.