Quebec's former lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in connection with questionable spending while she was in office.

Thibault, 70, faces six counts of fraud, breach of trust and use of counterfeit documents after details of her spending habits were made public two years ago.

Quebec's former lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault has publicly defended her irregular spending. (Clément Allard/Canadian Press) The criminal charges were filed after a joint federal and provincial auditor report found Thibault had racked up $700,000 in unjustified expenses during her tenure as the vice-regal representative of Queen Elizabeth II.

Thibault's lawyer entered the plea in a Quebec City courtroom on Tuesday morning, in absence of his client. Thibault is requesting a trial by jury. Her next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1 to allow her lawyer to review the evidence.

"I've had the opportunity to give it a cursory glance," said Michel Massicotte. "We're talking about several boxes of documents because the investigation looked at 10 years of public administration."

The auditor report documented Thibault's spending, including $239,000 on personal expenses and $129,000 in housing and meal bills charged to the federal government, even though the costs are covered by Quebec.

She also claimed $343,000 of undocumented expenses.

Massicotte said Thibault is confident she will be able to present her side of the story.

"It's obviously not very pleasant for her," he said. "But I believe she has total confidence the justice system will do its job and that she will have the opportunity to explain herself."

When summoned to the national assembly in 2007 to explain her expenses, Thibault defended the spending, saying it was done in accordance with the rules, practices and traditions of Canada's lieutenant-governors.

Quebec Justice Minister Kathleen Weil said last month she is also looking at the possibility of initiating civil action against Thibault.

Thibault is one of the longest-serving lieutenant-governors in Canadian history, having served from 1997 to 2007.

She was also Quebec's first female viceroy and the first disabled lieutenant-governor in Canada.

Thibault lost the use of her legs as a teenager in a tobogganing accident.

Her successor is Pierre Duchesne.

With files from The Canadian Press