Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau and her lobbyist friend are still business partners with companies officially active in the real estate sector, her cabinet said on Friday.
Press secretary Philippe Couture clarified this situation after first claiming on Thursday that two companies they link are dormant.
The companies Nomi Immobilier and 5840-5842 Chateaubriand SEC remain active according to the Quebec Business Register. Mr. Couture confirmed this information on Friday, stating that a lawsuit is preventing the closure of Chateaubriand SEC.
“She was a friend and business partner before she got into politics,” Mr Couture said at Le Devoir. It is certain that they are attached to this company where nothing happens. »
After confirming that the two friends had met the Minister for Health and Elderly, Sonia Bélanger, on December 5 to discuss government affairs, her office announced that this situation would not happen again.
Ms Duranceau intends to close all deals linking her to her lobbyist boyfriend once the ongoing legal dispute is settled, the minister’s office said.
These companies appear in the declaration of interest made by Ms Duranceau to the National Assembly’s Ethics Commissioner, Ariane Mignolet. However, they are not subject to blind trust.
More details to come.