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Party leaders disclose financial assets ahead of Quebec election

WATCH ABOVE: The latest numbers from an IPSOS poll shows the Quebec Liberals and the CAQ are in a virtual tie in voter intentions. Global Montreal Senior Anchor Jamie Orchard speaks to IPSOS Quebec senior vice-president and general manager Sebastien Dallaire about the findings – Sep 25, 2018

The leaders of Quebec’s major parties have disclosed the details of their personal finances just one week before the Quebec election.

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Quebec Liberal Party Leader Philippe Couillard was the last of the leaders to reveal his audited documents — he had said earlier in the campaign that he would not reveal his finances but changed his mind.

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As of Dec. 31, his assets were evaluated at $659,402, with a net worth of about $442,000.

“You’ll see that politics has not made us rich,” he said Monday before unveiling his documents.

He also has $230,512 in a retirement savings plan.

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Last year, Couillard declared $198,000 in employment income as premier of Quebec, as well as capital gains of $814.56.

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His wife, Suzanne Pilote, has assets evaluated around $1.1 million, mostly in property totalling $638,500.

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The couple paid $6,150 in municipal taxes in 2017; the total value of their property in Saint-Felicien is valued at $490,000.

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Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) Leader François Legault, who founded Air Transat in 1986, was the first to disclose his personal wealth of $9.9 million.

“It is my pleasure to disclose my assets, but I also think it’s an obligation to be transparent,” he said, insisting Quebecers have “the right to know.”

This includes a $4.5-million Montreal home on which he and his wife, Isabelle Brais, pay about $36,000 a year in municipal taxes.

READ MORE: Coalition Avenir Quebec’s François Legault first to disclose personal assets

Her tax declaration showed a $0 annual salary.

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Legault noted he has no bank accounts outside of Canada.

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Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Jean-François Lisée‘s net worth was declared at about $1.95 million.

He released both his provincial and federal tax returns.

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He explained he acquired his assets by selling books, offering freelance services, lecturing and being “economical.”

His most recent municipal tax document was $3,771.87; his home, located in La Cite-Limoilou, is assessed at $379,000.

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He also owns 40 per cent of a property in Montreal, estimated at a shared value of $468,000.

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Lisée’s financial statements also show a $71,000 line of credit.

“I think my assets are healthy,” he said.

“I still have a mortgage to pay, I have a line of credit, I have a lot of money in my children’s saving’s plans.”

Lisée also received an inheritance from his father in the early 1990s.

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Québec Solidaire spokesperson Manon Massé‘s salary was declared at $96,860.

She had no assets to reveal, but she did provide her income tax return for 2017.

According to the document, she made donations totalling $3,150, including $2,300 to the Women’s Federation of Quebec.

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— with files from The Canadian Press.

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