QUEBEC CITY – The Quebec Liberals are getting a terrible start to the session.
Integrity issues, mostly involving campaign fundraising, continue to dog the party.
Political adversaries again pounded Philippe Couillard and his team on Thursday, just as a new poll showed the Liberals losing popular support.
Since it was revealed that anti-corruption police (UPAC) raided Liberal party headquarters and questioned leader Philippe Couillard, things seem to be going from bad to worse for the Liberals.
READ MORE: Quebec Liberals scramble on first day of session
“How does it affect us? How would I say … it affects us in our thinking we have to be more transparent, we have to be quicker, but that’s all,” said long-time Liberal MNA Pierre Paradis.
“I haven’t talked with any policemen, I haven’t phoned them, they haven’t phoned me. The message today is no Liberal MNA is under investigation, that’s a clear message, that’s a very clear message.”
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But even that message got derailed when former-police-officer-turned-MNA Robert Poëti hinted the Parti Quebecois likely arranged with police for the information on the raid to be leaked, just as session was starting, in order to sabotage the Liberals.
“If you think this is a coincidence …” he suggested, his voice trailing off.
A suggestion that landed Poëti an avalanche of criticism.
“If Mr. Poëti thinks that UPAC isn’t fit to do the job, it’s up to him to say it,” said Public Security Minister Stéphane Bergeron.
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“If Mr. Poëti thinks that Mr. Lafrennière isn’t fit to do the job, it’s up to Mr. Poëti to say it.”
Tourism Minister Pascal Bérubé added: “If he knows something about ties, the links between political power and the police, it’s a major issue.”
Not to be undone, the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) showed reporters a Liberal letter, which was handed out at the doors of a synagogue, reminding worshippers donations amount to preferential treatment. That too provoked reaction.
“There’s a structural problem at the Liberal party and it seems it’s not finished,” said Labour Minister Agnès Maltais.
Couillard has promised to be more transparent and insisted his party has already made some important changes.
But the road to recovery may be a long one: Thursday’s CROP poll showed the Liberals are losing support: five percentage points in a month.
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