The National Assembly approved by a majority on Wednesday the appointment of Johanne Beausoleil as director general of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
Johanne Beausoleil has held this position on an interim basis since November 2019. She replaced Martin Prud’homme, who was suspended in March 2019. Mr. Prud’homme announced his retirement in August “following an agreement reached with the Government of Quebec “.
Independent MNAs Guy Ouellette, Claire Samson and Sylvain Roy voted against this nomination.
Ms. Beausoleil is the first leader of the SQ whose appointment is subject to the approval of deputies during a vote in the National Assembly.
In May 2019, the CAQ government passed a law modifying the process for appointing the anti-corruption commissioner, the director of criminal and penal prosecutions and the director general of the Sûreté du Québec.
Until then, their appointment was the responsibility of the government alone.
The process was disrupted when MNA Claire Samson, who represents the Conservative Party of Quebec while having independent status, demanded to be integrated into the committee of elected officials responsible for evaluating the government’s suggestion in anticipation of the vote. .
Ms. Samson had in particular inadvertently revealed the name of Ms. Beausoleil.
More details will follow
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