If she doesn’t regret her actions, Pauline Marois admits that it was the Montreal Heart Institute that initiated the public appearance of the six former prime ministers against the CAQ reform of the health system.
• Also read: The six former prime ministers demanded more transparency from the lobby representative
• Also read: Health care reform: An influential lobby behind the exit of the six former prime ministers
• Also read: Letter from six former prime ministers: Quebec does not shy away from pressure from former prime ministers
“I was contacted by one of the leaders of this whole thing, but it came from the institutions themselves,” she admitted on Saturday on the sidelines of the Parti Québécois’ national assembly. I know that Éric Bédard is one of those who spoke to me. I spoke to Lucien Bouchard.
However, the former prime minister made it clear that she was capable of making her own decisions. “I’m quite tall. I have enough experience,” she insisted. We did it in the name of the institutions, we don’t do it in the name of people hiding behind the curtains.”
Our parliamentary office revealed this week that the letter from former prime ministers calling on François Legault to step down from his health reform, in particular to preserve the independence of research centers and foundations, was directed by the Cardiology Institute of Montreal, which has important financial connections to the Desmarais family. Éric Bédard is chairman of the board of the institute and managing partner of the large law firm Fasken.
As Le Journal wrote in 2020, the wealthy Desmarais family largely finances the Cardiology Institute. But Power Corporation’s owners also have significant financial interests there, such as in the development of a drug called Dalcetrapib, which was developed from funded research by its researchers.
Lobbying Commissioner
The lobbying commissioner called on the six former prime ministers to be more transparent about the interests they represent during their public appearances this week. According to Me Jean-François Routhier, these former politicians should be role models, even if the lobbying law does not explicitly apply to their case, since their efforts were voluntary.
“If we embark on this approach, we do so with total transparency, with total honesty and, above all, with the deep conviction that the health system would be better served,” responded Pauline Marois, adding that everything is in line with the lobbying be law.
The former prime minister has no regrets. “I think it’s a good cause.” In her opinion, research centers and foundations need to be given more autonomy in order to be able to fully carry out their tasks.
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.