Quebec has taken a significant step in cleaning up leadership races by introducing a bill to crack down on vote-buying. Democratic Institutions Minister Jean-François Roberge presented the bill in the National Assembly on Friday, aiming to outlaw any form of undue influence on voters in party leadership campaigns or candidate nomination processes.
The proposed legislation, which adds a new offense to the Election Act and the Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities, seeks to punish individuals attempting to sway votes through unethical means. This move comes in response to recent revelations of alleged vote-buying tactics in the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leadership race, where supporters of a candidate were reportedly offered cash rewards.
In light of these concerning reports, the PLQ has initiated an investigation into the matter. Interestingly, Elections Quebec has indicated that the current Election Act does not specifically prohibit exchanging donations for votes in leadership races, as long as all campaign expenses are disclosed to the electoral authorities.
Minister Roberge emphasized the necessity of this new legislation, proposing fines ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 for a first offense and $10,000 to $30,000 for subsequent violations within a decade. While existing laws already prohibit exchanging money for votes in general and byelections, this bill aims to address the unique challenges posed by leadership contests.
Notably, all three opposition parties have voiced their support for this initiative to curb unethical practices in political campaigns.
