QUEBEC CITY – Former Education Minister Yves Bolduc did not leave politics empty-handed.
Bolduc was entitled – and took – a $155,000 transition severance allowance.
The 57-year-old had been an MNA since 2008, but his decision to take the cash was immediately denounced by opposition parties.
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The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and Parti Québécois (PQ) pointed out other recently departing MNAs, such as Christian Dubé and Elaine Zakaib, had chosen to forego the money in the name of austerity.
Friday, Premier Philippe Couillard said he would have preferred that Bolduc didn’t take the severance pay.
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“I took this advantage when I left politics in 2008 and it was maybe the end of the time when this was part of the way things were done,” Couillard told reporters.
“I want to say again that we have to respond and show that we are sensitive. We believe this should stop.”
The Premier urged all four political parties at the National Assembly to come together, without partisanship, and agree to stop that practice.
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