Dominique Anglade finally decided to crack down following the spat on Twitter between Liberal MPs Marie Montpetit and Gaétan Barrette last week. The head of the PLQ simply decided to demote them.
In a press release published on Saturday evening, the head of the official opposition in the National Assembly announces that she has made changes to the composition of her shadow cabinet.
Dominique Anglade first chose to take on the responsibility of spokesperson for Health and Social Services as well as for the Charter of the Regions.
Marie Montpetit therefore loses this important mandate within the Liberal cabinet. It is precisely this responsibility which was at the heart of the virtual quarrel with his colleague Gaétan Barrette, former Minister of Health. She criticized him for borrowing a tone in his statements on Twitter “as unproductive as the authoritarian attitude and threats (of Prime Minister) François Legault”.
The member for Maurice-Richard remains vice-president of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy and Natural Resources.
For his part, Gaétan Barrette loses responsibility for matters related to the Treasury Board, which will now be assumed by Carlos Leitao. He also loses the mandate of Canadian Intergovernmental Relations, which now belongs to David Birnbhaum.
The member for La Pinière retains many responsibilities. According to the National Assembly portal, he is the official opposition spokesperson for government administration; ethics; infrastructure; integrity of public procurement; and digital transformation.
The announcement comes as a sort of surprise in the middle of the weekend when the file appeared to be closed following an emergency Liberal caucus meeting held in the aftermath of the online incident.
The message circulating in the entourage of the leader and within the caucus, suggested that the incident was considered to be minor and that there would be no follow-up. The deputies involved, it seemed, did not face any sanction.
Dominique Anglade insisted to his troops on the fact that it is possible to discuss everything in caucus, but that it must happen internally and especially not on social networks. Solidarity and respect for everyone’s responsibilities remain essential, the chef recalled.