Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press The CAQ deputy for Chauveau, Sylvain Lévesque, in October 2022
Caroline Plante – The Canadian Press in Quebec
January 22, 2024
- Quebec
The Ethics Commissioner, Ariane Mignolet, has opened an investigation into the second vice-president of the National Assembly and CAQ member for Chauveau, Sylvain Lévesque.
The opening of this investigation follows a request made by MP Vincent Marissal of Québec solidaire, indicated the commissioner's team in a press release sent Monday at the end of the day.
Mr. Marissal claimed to have reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Lévesque had committed a breach of section 36 of the Code of ethics and professional conduct for members of the National Assembly.
More precisely, he suspects Mr. Lévesque's constituency office of having used an email address from the National Assembly to “promote the partisan fundraising activities of the Coalition Avenir Québec.”
Last week, Radio-Canada reported that an employee of Chauveau's office had offered to pay to meet a minister to a citizen who wanted to advance her file.
At the office of the chief government whip, we responded that “under no circumstances” was the CAQ asking citizens to participate in fundraising cocktails to be able to meet elected officials.
The Ethics Commissioner, however, ruled that there was cause for investigation.
“The MP concerned was informed in writing of the opening of an investigation into him,” said Me Mignolet’s team on Monday, adding that the investigation would be conducted behind closed doors , “in accordance with the Code”.
“As such, no comments will be made during the investigation process. Once this is completed, a report […] will be sent to the President of the National Assembly, who will make it public,” it was added.