The Chief Electoral Officer (DGE) has opened an investigation to determine whether the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) violated electoral law by offering the opportunity to meet a minister in exchange for political donations.
DGE spokeswoman Julie St-Arnaud Drolet confirmed on Monday that the investigation focused on a fundraising cocktail in the Soulanges constituency, where a grieving couple campaigning for stricter rules against drunk driving were invited to a meeting with Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault became.
Last week, the CAQ decided to directly refund a donation totaling $200 to the couple, which is not allowed under election law. When asked about this issue, the DGE announced on Monday that an investigation had been initiated.
Ms. St-Arnaud Drolet explained that this investigation, first reported by Radio-Canada, focused on how the two $100 donations came about. “Public information leads us to believe that the two contributions were made in exchange for consideration, so these contributions are not compliant,” the spokesman said.
Section 90 of the Electoral Act requires that a contribution must be made voluntarily, without compensation or consideration, and is non-refundable.
Possible violation
The decision to conduct audits was based on public statements from donors Elizabeth Rivera and Antoine Bittar about the funding cocktail.
“The way donors reported being approached in public spaces, their perception makes us say it's worth a look,” said Ms St-Arnaud Drolet. Because if the presence of a minister had been offered back then in return for a voter's contribution, there could have been a violation of the law. »
It could not be clarified whether the CAQ is the subject of other investigations into similar cases that have made headlines in recent weeks.
“I will let you follow your conclusions,” the speaker said. For my part, we remain true to our general line, we do not confirm or deny the conduct of investigations. »
The DGE exceptionally decided to disclose the existence of an investigation in Soulanges as journalists raised questions about the CAQ's decision to refund the two donors.
“If someone had simply asked us to carry out your investigation, we would have said: 'We don't confirm, we don't deny,'” explained Ms St-Arnaud Drolet.
Other controversies
The only way for a party to refund a non-compliant contribution is to pay it back to the DGE, which acts as an intermediary between voters and political parties. However, the current procedure is for this amount to then be paid into the government's consolidated fund rather than to the voter who donated it.
In the current situation, the payment made by the CAQ to the couple is considered by the DGE as compensation, which must be declared as a party expense.
Elizabeth Rivera and her husband Antoine Bittar told two weeks ago how Soulanges MP Marilyne Picard's staff had approached them about the opportunity to meet Ms Guilbault last fall.
The couple had previously asked the MP for help to ensure that drink-driving penalties start at 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, rather than 80 mg per 100 ml of blood, as is currently the case.
Since January, the CAQ has faced several controversial cases of fundraisers highlighting the presence of ministers.
National Assembly Ethics Commissioner Ariane Mignolet has opened two investigations into the activities of two MPs.