Commissioner Says PQ’s Péladeau Not Punished since He ‘Acted in Good Faith’

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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According to the findings of a recent investigation conducted by the province’s ethics commissioner, Parti Québécois leadership candidate, Pierre Karl Péladeau, did break the province’s ethics code twice by attempting to influence the sale of Vision Globale to a company he owns, i.e. Quebecor.

The ruling announced by commissioner, Jacques Saint-Laurent, on Friday, highlighted that Péladeau, the MNA for Saint-Jérôme, “acted in good faith,” recognized his error and apologized, so he will not be punished. The commissioner mentioned in his 21-page tabled in the National Assembly that “even if he acted in good faith, I have to conclude the code was transgressed.” The report said that “in my view, his lack of experience as the MNA for Saint-Jérôme, contributed to the errors committed during these interventions.” Furthermore, it was stated that “the MNA for Saint-Jérome appears to have acted in good faith in expressing his views on the importance of retaining control of this company in Quebecer’s hands.”

Reports have alleged that Saint-Laurent was investigating two specific incidents when Péladeau intervened in the sale without disclosing that the company to benefit from the sale was his own, Quebecor. Péladeau allegedly intervened when pushing his case in a telephone call to the president of the company handling the sale, Investissement Québec, on May 13, 2014. Whereas, the same happened when he got involved when the sale came up at the legislature committee on July 2, 2014. Saint-Laurent unambiguously stated that both were violations of the code.