MONTREAL — A Quebec university media centre will decide likely next week if it will study whether Pierre Karl Péladeau should continue owning the controlling shares in Québecor Inc.
READ MORE: Péladeau to put Quebecor shares in blind trust if he is PQ leader
Daniel Giroux of the Université Laval’s centre for media studies said on Wednesday his board will begin considering the government’s offer on Thursday.
The Liberal government tabled a motion in the legislature this week asking the centre to study the “influential effects” on democracy of a politician who is a controlling owner of a media empire.
READ MORE: What does Pierre-Karl Péladeau own?
While Péladeau’s name is not specifically mentioned in the motion, it’s clear it is targeting the Parti Québécois leadership candidate, whose Québecor owns newspapers, a TV network, a cable company and many other interests.
If the media centre accepts the government’s offer, its final report will be due at the end of May, around the time the PQ leader is selected.
Péladeau, who is considered the front-runner in the race, has rejected calls to sell his Québecor shares and says he is only willing to place them in a blind trust.
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