(Quebec) A former political advisor to the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), Étienne Boulrice, is accused of fraudulent electoral maneuver by Élections Québec.
According to the statement of offence issued by the watchdog of the Electoral Act, Mr. Boulrice allegedly helped or incited, at the beginning of March 2023, a woman to make a contribution of $100 to the CAQ “other than from her own assets”, which is illegal.
At the time of the alleged facts, Mr. Boulrice was a political advisor to the CAQ MNA for Hull, Suzanne Tremblay. The latter is not the subject of a notice of offence from Élections Québec. Étienne Boulrice has since resigned.
“Integrity is a fundamental value at the CAQ and for MNA Suzanne Tremblay. An employee who receives such a finding obviously cannot remain on our team,” the director of communications at the office of the Chief Government Whip, Marc Danis, indicated in writing to The Canadian Press.
Elections Quebec indicated that the former political employee pleaded not guilty.
If found guilty, Étienne Boulrice is liable to a fine of $5,000 to $20,000. He will also be banned from doing partisan work, being a candidate in an election and even voting for a period of five years.
Let us recall that during the last parliamentary session, the CAQ was shaken by controversies related to its financing methods. François Legault’s party has since decided to stop collecting donations.