Watch: Pressure on PKP to sell shares mounts
QUEBEC CITY — A debate is raging at the National Assembly over whether PQ MNA and leadership hopeful Pierre Karl Péladeau should sell his Quebecor shares.
Péladeau is the controlling shareholder of Quebec’s largest media empire.
It’s not uncommon for a politician to hail from the business world. Take Natural Resources Minister Pierre Arcand: he was president of Corus Quebec Radio from 2002 to 2007.
“I sold my shares. I was minority shareholder in a company and when I became minister, I sold my shares,” he insisted Tuesday.
The Liberals ganged up on Péladeau and argued it’s high time the media mogul does the same.
“It’s not normal for someone to think he can be premier of Quebec, leader of his party and at the same time leader of the information in Quebec,” said Government House Leader Jean-Marc Fournier.
In 2009, the PQ demanded then Labour Minister David Whissel make the ethical choice and sell his family asphalt business. Whissel chose to keep his company and quit politics instead. The Liberals are surprised what was bad for Whissel is now perfectly acceptable for Péladeau.
“I believe it’s a double standard,” said Health Minister Gaétan Barrette.
“(CAQ leader) François Legault, when he decided to run in politics, he decided to sell all assets with Air Transat, a company he created,” added CAQ MNA Gérard Deltell. “I heard Mr. Péladeau say it’s a company founded by my father, I do respect that, but when you’re in politics you have to make those choices.”
PQ MNAs continued to rally behind Péladeau.
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“Mr. Péladeau is respecting the law,” said PQ MNA Sylvain Gaudreault.
Quebec’s Ethics Commissioner is expected to weigh in sometime this month.
“I don’t see why we should feel uncomfortable,” said PQ interim leader Stéphane Bédard.
As for Péladeau, he again refused to budge on Tuesday.
“Everyone has their opinion, I have mine and I’ve already expressed it,” he said.
A motion to tighten the Assembly’s code of ethics and single out Péladeau will be debated on Wednesday. The motion calls on the government to change rules to forbid any MNA or members of their family from owning a media business.
Meanwhile, Péladeau’s opponents warn the pressure on him will only intensify, calling this his first real test.
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