QUEBEC CITY – Try as he may, Pierre Karl Péladeau just cannot keep a low profile.
He was again thrust in the limelight this week, as parties discussed his double status, with the Parti Québécois ferociously defending his right to be an MNA.
“One of the last times that an elected member was expulsed from a democratic body, it was Louis Riel,” emphasized PQ MNA Stéphane Bergeron.
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The Liberals and the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) are looking to ban MNAs and their families from holding a controlling stake in a media company.
The issue was first raised by the PQ’s Jean-François Lisée.
“He said if you’re a member of the legislative and you’re in control of a media like Quebecor, there’s a problem. That’s the question,” said Liberal House Leader Jean-Marc Fournier.
As is often the case these days, Péladeau wrote on Facebook that targeting him with a motion was illegal and “heinous.”
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The Liberals shelved the debate on Thursday and now seem to be tip-toeing around the delicate question of what to do with Péladeau.
“We will have a discussion with the PQ, the CAQ and Québec Solidaire to try to find the right formula so we can look at all the context,” Fournier said.
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CAQ leader François Legault believes something must be done to clear the air.
“I don’t understand how he doesn’t see that in controlling 50% of the information in Quebec, he’s putting journalists in a position where it will be tough for some of them to criticize him,” Legault said.
Péladeau doesn’t have to worry about selling his assets just yet.
Parties still have to decide on the type of hearings, the duration, the guest list and whether or not to invite other media owners to talk about how they can influence media coverage.
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