Quebec Liberals to pay back illegal donations

QUEBEC CITY – The Liberal party says it will pay back illegal donations from 2009.

The province’s chief electoral officer has requested $3,500 collected from seven donors be paid back.

READ MORE: Former Quebec deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau arrested in anti-corruption sweep

“I think we responded correctly under the circumstances.”

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It was revealed that, under the government of former premier Jean Charest, cabinet ministers were required to raise $100,000 a year for the party.

Not long after, then-Treasury Board President Sam Hamad was accused of giving privileged information to a former Liberal Party fundraiser, and former deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau was arrested on charges of corruption linked to party fundraising.

In April, the Liberals asked the chief electoral officer to determine which donations were illegal.

The party was under no legal obligation to refund the donations because they fell outside the five-year timeline.

READ MORE: Liberals turn to Quebec Chief Electoral Officer to determine illegal party donations

“It means the Liberal Party is still financing elections with dirty money,” said Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) leader François Legault.

The CAQ argued the Liberal party refused to pay back the money in 2015, and is only doing so now because of public pressure.