MONTREAL - Jacques Duchesneau should prepare to get an earful from his boss.

Robert Lafreniere, commissioner of the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC), said in a press conference Monday that he has no intention of standing aside while Duchesneau discredits his hard-working colleagues.

He was referring to Duchesneau's recent criticisms implying that a retired judge, rather than a police officer, should lead the unit.

Duchesneau, who leads UPAC's anti-collusion squad investigating the Ministry of Transportation, suggested that it be led someone such as retired judge John Gomery.

Lafreniere also explained that the reason he did not respond to Duchesneau's report is that it was aimed at the Transport Minister and that it should therefore be Pierre Moreau's job to respond.

He's not the only one irked by Duchesneau's recent comments. On Friday, Quebecor Inc. said that it was considering legal action against the former cop for comments he made about the media empire.

In an interview published Friday in La Presse, Duchesneau implied that TVA and the Journal de Montreal, as well as various reporters and columnists in the Quebecor chain had reported in a biased fashion against his campaign.

The newspaper and TV station denounced his comments. 

Lafreniere's comments Monday were similarly ill-received by the provincial opposition.

Robert Lafreniere argued that an inquiry into the construction industry would undermine police investigations, arguing that it would be difficult for the anti-crime task force to (UPAC) to co-exist alongside such an inquiry.

He said that the two-fisted strategy would make it difficult to deal with witnesses, who might change their testimony after dealing with both groups. He also argued that it could also scare off potential informants

The Parti Quebecois, which has been pushing hard for a public probe, was not thrilled with Lafreniere's comments.

PQ Public Security critic Stephane Bergeron said that Lafreniere was playing, "Don Quixote in front of the camera to support the government line."

He said that Lafreniere's apprehensions did not hold water, as many arrests were made during the Gomery Commission and the crime commission of the 1970s.

An ADQ spokesperson Sylvie Roy also criticized Laferniere's comments.

"He should concentrate on the investigations, instead of offering his opinion on what the government should do," she said.

Lafreniere said that he only learned through the media that Duchesneau was planning to leave the anti-corruption squad, a group that was established in February 2011 by the Minister of Public Security to fight against influence peddling, corruption and collusion in the awarding of public contracts.

Duchesneau's force is overseen by Lafreniere who was appointed to a five-year term as head of the UPAC on Mach 16.

Lafreniere had worked at the provincial police (SQ) for 29 years prior to being appointed deputy minister for public safety.

Laferniere is required to meet with media once every six months to brief them on the progress of the effort.

With files from The Canadian Press