(Quebec) The new female spokesperson for Québec solidaire (QS), Émilise Lessard-Therrien, said Tuesday that she is “not uncomfortable” about turning around and now supporting investments thousands of dollars of his party’s advertising in Facebook and Instagram.
“I don’t think it calls into question all my principles,” she assured.
In support of Quebec media, the former MP for Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue was formerly against QS’s advertising investments on the two Meta platforms.
But since she was elected co-spokesperson 10 days ago at a convention in Gatineau, she says she has rallied behind her party’s decision to continue spending thousands of dollars on advertising on social networks, while announcements of cutbacks follow one after another on Radio-Canada, TVA, and other media.
However, the other parties had called for a boycott of Meta following its decision to block content from Canadian media earlier this year.
“I am not uncomfortable rallying behind a position that was taken democratically by my party,” she explained in a press scrum at the National Assembly on Tuesday morning, her first presence since her election. .
“There was a golden opportunity during the congress” to debate it, she pleaded.
“The question has not been brought up, so I agree with the position. […] I have understood this position since day one. It was taken through our authorities. I come to the head of this party and I support these decisions. »
During the by-election in Jean-Talon earlier this fall, QS came under criticism for placing advertisements on Facebook, thus deviating from the boycott of Meta called by all parties.
Émilise Lessard-Therrien then asked the party to stop buying ads on Facebook.
Now, everyone is concerned about contacting people who, “unfortunately or fortunately, are a lot on social networks today,” she pleaded, while ensuring that she supports the Quebec media.
“Our principles are still there, are still strong,” said M.me Lessard-Therrien. The right to information is important, it’s fundamental in Quebec and that’s why we are allies of the media. »