Ethics Commissioner Ariane Mignolet is opening an investigation into the second vice-president of the National Assembly and CAQ member for Chauveau, Sylvain Lévesque.
It follows a motion made last Wednesday by Solidarity MP for Rosemont Vincent Marissal in response to revelations by Radio-Canada about the ethical questions raised by certain funding activities of the Coalition Avenir Québec.
Mr. Marissal is particularly concerned about a situation reported by a citizen of the Chauveau riding who had asked Sylvain Lévesque to help her forward a file to Eric Girard, Quebec's finance minister.
An employee of Mr. Lévesque's office then suggested that this citizen take part in a fundraising cocktail in order to be able to meet the minister. She was supposed to pay $100, but she refused.
The CAQ appears to be monetizing access to its ministers. “I think we have crossed the ethical line,” Mr. Marissal fumed after this revelation.
The Prime Minister's Office defended itself by claiming that under no circumstances would we ask citizens to attend an event to meet an elected official.
However, the ethics officer deemed an investigation necessary.
Possible ethics violation
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Ariane Mignolet, Quebec Ethics Commissioner
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
In a press release issued on Monday, it indicates that it will investigate a possible violation of Article 36 of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of Members of the National Assembly, which concerns the use of property and government services by MPs for activities related to the exercise of their office.
She specifies that the alleged facts concern the use of computer equipment and the official email address of the National Assembly by an employee of the Chauveau constituency office in the exercise of her duties to promote the fundraising campaign for the Coalition Avenir Quebec.
Mr Lévesque has been informed in writing of the initiation of this investigation, which will take place behind closed doors in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Members of the National Assembly.
Radio-Canada's revelations also concerned other activities by CAQ elected officials, notably the organization of a networking evening by Marie-Victorin MP Shirley Dorismond in the presence of Minister Jean Boulet and Michel Philibert, chief of staff to the Minister for the Economy.
However, the Ethics Commissioner's guidelines provide that it is prohibited to use an employee's title or position when conducting partisan political activities.
The electoral law also provides that no benefit or consideration may be offered to a voter in exchange for a contribution.