The election campaign kicked off with a twist as Ethics and Professional Conduct Commissioner Ariane Mignolet initiated an investigation into Vincent Marissal, disrupting the Parti Québécois’ (PQ) plans on Day 1.
Marissal, a former member of Québec solidaire (QS) who recently turned independent, made headlines by announcing his candidacy for the PQ in Taschereau. However, just two days later, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon rejected Marissal’s candidacy over potential ethical breaches.
Reports suggest that Marissal may have rented out his National Assembly-funded apartment in exchange for free accommodations through an online home-sharing platform, prompting Commissioner Mignolet to launch an investigation on reasonable grounds.
Despite the scrutiny, Marissal took to social media to affirm his cooperation with the investigation.
The PQ’s campaign faced early turbulence, with discontent brewing among party activists over Marissal’s nomination in Taschereau and the controversial selection of former CHOI Radio X journalist François Gariépy in Charlevoix-Côte-de-Beaupré.
Gariépy’s past offensive comments, including his use of the derogatory term “squaw” to describe Indigenous women, resurfaced, causing a stir. Gariépy expressed regret for his words, but the fallout highlighted the challenges facing the PQ in fostering positive relations with First Nations communities.
