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Former Quebec deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau and six other people involved in politics and government contracts have been arrested on 13 charges that include fraud on government, corruption and abuse of trust, the head of Quebec’s permanent anti-corruption squad has confirmed.

The group of seven, which includes people associated with the provincial Liberals and the Parti Québécois, were arrested shortly after 6 a.m. on Thursday in Quebec City, Charlevoix and the Gaspésie, UPAC chief Robert Lafrenière said.

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The arrests are the result of two long investigations, dubbed Joug and Lierre, he said.

Normandeau faces charges of conspiracy, corruption of public servants, frauds against the government and abuse of trust.

The conspiracy charge relates to actions between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2012. The other charges relate to actions between Jan. 1, 2005 and Dec. 31, 2012.

Others arrested are: former Liberal cabinet minister Marc-Yvan Côté, Normandeau’s former chief of staff, Bruno Lortie, Roche engineering employees Mario Martel and France Michaud, as well as Ernest Murray, a former political attaché to former Premier Pauline Marois and François Roussy, former mayor of the town of Gaspé.