The Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, will avoid any professional meeting in the future with a lobbyist friend who would be a business partner, after a meeting last fall where they discussed government files together, indicated his office on Thursday.
The press attaché Philippe Couture declared that this meeting, between Mme Duranceau and Annie Lemieux, took place on December 5, 2022, to discuss accommodation for the elderly.
Mr. Couture said that the two friends will cease all professional relations.
“There is no intention to meet her and we will not meet her,” he said in an interview. Regardless of the file, there is no intention to see M again.me Lemieux, to meet her again in her functions. »
The press officer reacted to the information reported by the media Pivotwhich exposed the personal and professional relationship between the Minister and Annie Lemieux, a businesswoman who holds an active mandate specifically targeting the ministry of her friend, whose candidacy she had welcomed before her election in October.
“It’s a bond of friendship and it’s a business bond that they maintained as well,” he said.
The Minister for Health and Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, was also present at the December 5 meeting, the location of which was not specified.
“There was only one rather informal meeting in the presence also of Mme Bélanger on information on seniors’ homes and seniors’ residences,” said the press officer.
The Registry of Lobbyists indicates that Ms.me Lemieux has registered a mandate to represent his company, Groupe LS4, valid for the period from November 29, 2022 to November 28, 2023.
The stated objective relates to “modifications to the Civil Code of Québec following discussions on government orientations with regard to housing and accommodation for seniors in Québec and the role of private companies in this matter”.
Representations are declared for the Departments of Municipal Affairs, Housing and Seniors.
Ethics
It was not possible to know whether M.me Duranceau intends to seek an opinion from the Ethics Commissioner of the National Assembly, Ariane Mignolet, to establish guidelines that would guide the exchanges between the two friends, after their meeting on December 5.
“The Ethics Commissioner was not aware of this meeting and if there is anything to be had, we will rely on the guidelines of the Ethics Commissioner,” said Mr. Sewing.
The Quebec Enterprise Register (REQ) indicates Mme Duranceau and M.me Lemieux has business ties through at least two companies in the real estate sector.
The Minister is a shareholder of 9381-9795 Québec inc., of which Ms.me Lemieux is one of the administrators.
The two friends are also co-shareholders of Nomi Immobilier.
Mr. Couture said that the businesses of the two friends are no longer active.
“These are empty shells,” he said. These companies are registered, but they are inactive and no longer operating. »
However, the information appearing on each of the sheets of the two companies does not mention any such thing.
“No end date of existence is declared in the register”, indicates the REQ.