QUEBEC CITY — Like an unruly student kicked out of class, Pierre Karl Péladeau left the National Assembly’s Blue Room on Thursday after Quebec’s ethics commissioner ruled Péladeau could not take part in debates about himself.
The motion barring MNAs and their families from owning a controlling stake in a media company easily passed, 84 to 22.
However, no motion is binding. Péladeau does not have to dump his Quebecor shares…at least, not for now.
“People outside the Assembly will give us their opinion, your own professional federation, people in universities or maybe outside Quebec will tell us how they would govern themselves in such a situation,” said Premier Philippe Couillard.
The Premier explained there will be committee hearings and possibly legislation to change the code of ethics, followed by more public hearings. The Quebec Liberals are laying down the brickwork to lead Péladeau towards making a choice he clearly doesn’t want to make.
“He will have to choose.”
“At the end of the day, it will be his decision,” said Couillard.
“The solution here will be political. It’s not going to be achieved through a resolution passed here or legislation tomorrow. It’s going to be achieved politically by his own judgement, his own decision, and the judgement that the PQ and the population will eventually pass.”
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The Parti Quebecois was still seething on Thursday. The party sees the motion as a political manoeuvre to oust its most popular MNA.
“We can’t change the rules as we go based on current events,” PQ MNA Sylvain Gaudreault argued.
Péladeau has yet to say whether he’ll run for PQ leader considering the turn of events.
READ MORE: Péladeau to put Quebecor shares in blind trust if he is PQ leader
The Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ), which first tabled the motion, spoke of a major victory.
“The Parti Québécois has tried to pretend Mr. Péladeau is a victim concerning this motion, I think it’s a victory for democracy,” said CAQ House Leader François Bonnardel.
Changing the code of ethics is no ordinary procedure. It normally requires unanimity, but the Liberals are now saying a consensus will do.
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