Concerns have emerged regarding the CAQ’s use of political data in constituency offices, highlighted by ethics commissioner Ariane Mignolet. She found that the “Coaliste” platform categorizes citizens by political affiliation, raising ethical issues about impartiality in public service. While CAQ leaders maintain that the software is used solely for operational purposes, the situation has prompted calls for stricter oversight. Other parties, like the solidarity party, have urged deeper investigations into this practice.
Concerns Over Political Data Use in CAQ Offices
In the constituency offices of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), there has been a troubling revelation regarding the classification of citizens based on their political affiliations. The ethics commissioner has called upon the party to restrict access to this sensitive data for Members of Parliament (MPs) and their staff.
Ethics Commissioner Raises Alarm
Ariane Mignolet, the ethics commissioner, uncovered that the Chauveau constituency office in Quebec utilized a platform known as “Coaliste” for managing citizen files. This software, designed specifically for the CAQ, serves dual purposes: scoring during elections and facilitating advertising orders.
According to Ms. Mignolet, “Coaliste” is primarily employed for electoral strategies, with voter files displaying categories such as ‘Supporter’, ‘Opponent’, and ‘Not scored’. This allows MPs and their teams to access partisan information about citizens seeking their help, which raises ethical concerns about fairness and impartiality in public service.
She emphasized the importance of ensuring that all citizens receive equal assistance from their MPs, irrespective of their political views. In response, Brigitte Legault, the general director of the CAQ, argued that the staff in constituency offices have not been influenced by this data categorization. She confirmed that this software is installed across all CAQ constituency offices but indicated that the party is currently reviewing the ethics commissioner’s report before making any decisions about access restrictions.
The CAQ asserts that it adheres to the regulations set by the Chief Electoral Officer (DGEQ), stating that the software is utilized merely for accessing electoral lists to aid constituency employees in their duties. Legault highlighted their commitment to best practices regarding security, ensuring that they are vigilant in their operations.
In her report, the ethics commissioner expressed concern that partisan information should not be accessible via government resources like computers and phones provided by the National Assembly. She argues that this situation blurs the lines between partisan politics and the responsibilities of MPs.
Members of the solidarity party have declared that they do not engage with this type of software in their offices and have encouraged the commissioner to pursue a deeper investigation. Vincent Marissal stated, “If the commissioner believes she needs to go further, go ahead,” while Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois described the findings as alarming.
The Liberal party has also acknowledged the use of electoral campaign software but clarified that it is strictly reserved for communication with members, former members, and donors outside of campaign periods. Spokesperson Alexandra Régis assured that the party conducts regular monitoring to ensure compliance with established rules.