The National Assembly unanimously passed Bill 14 on Thursday, officially banning vote buying in leadership races and closing a significant loophole in electoral law.
Just last month, the Journal de Montréal revealed text messages hinting at monetary incentives, dubbed “brownies,” being exchanged to secure votes for Pablo Rodriguez in the Liberal leadership contest.
In response to these allegations, the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) promptly launched an investigation to address the issue.
Previously, Élections Québec had clarified that the Electoral Act did not explicitly prohibit the exchange of donations for votes during leadership races, as long as all candidate expenses were transparent and reported to the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec (DGEQ).
Recognizing the need for legislative action, Jean-François Roberge, the minister overseeing democratic institutions, introduced the bill to address these concerns.
The new legislation not only prohibits vote buying in leadership races but also extends to mayoral and party nomination contests. Offenders face fines ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 for a first offence, and $10,000 to $30,000 for subsequent violations within a decade.
It is important to highlight that paying for votes has long been illegal in Quebec during general elections and byelections.
Minister Roberge garnered bipartisan support from all political parties in the National Assembly during the vote, indicating a collective stance against the practice of “brownies.”
Bill 14 passed swiftly without the need for additional consultations, marking a decisive step in strengthening electoral integrity in the province.
